Chandigarh November 30:
Gurdas Singh Badal, the younger brother of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has created a flutter in Punjab politics by saying that his elder brother virtually blocked the political growth of his son Manpreet Singh Badal by making Sukhbir Singh Badal the State's Deputy Chief Minister.
This is for the first time that former Akali Dal veteran Gurdas Badal has trained his guns on Chief Minister Badal, saying that as per an agreement between the two brothers, Sukhbir had to move to Central politics, and Manpreet had to become his heir-apparent in Punjab. His revelations, which he made in an interview to a Punjab Daily, have brought forth the long simmering differences among the Badal family as to who would succeed Chief Minister Badal when he retires. "It was of course Manpreet Singh," said Gurdas Badal.
According to SAD general secretary Maheshinder Singh Grewal: "It is pertinent to mention here that Gurdas Singh Badal revealed in the interview that he and Parkash Singh Badal decided to keep Sukhbir in Central politics and Manpreet was to be the Chief Minister of the State, but with the induction of Sukhbir in State politics, the way for Manpreet's becoming Chief Minister had been blocked and Manpreet was left with no other option than quitting the Government as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal."
Though the SAD is trying to attack Manpreet saying that he was overambitious and that is why he chose to revolt, the issue has once again brought out the fact that at one time Chief Minister Badal, himself, was keen to declare Manpreet as his heir-apparent. Grewal said that nobody should have any doubt regarding Manpreet's narrow political ambition which led to compelling circumstances for his ouster from the party and the Government, which was countered by a supporter of Manpreet, who said that in politics everybody has ambition.
"Manpreet has justified ambition to grow bigger than others in State politics. Sukhbir Singh Badal has also become Deputy Chief Minister with hopes of donning the mantle of Chief Ministership as soon as possible," he said. Gurdas Badal has also said that Manpreet would not resign his Gidderbaha seat in Muktsar district.
Gurdas Singh Badal, the younger brother of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has created a flutter in Punjab politics by saying that his elder brother virtually blocked the political growth of his son Manpreet Singh Badal by making Sukhbir Singh Badal the State's Deputy Chief Minister.
This is for the first time that former Akali Dal veteran Gurdas Badal has trained his guns on Chief Minister Badal, saying that as per an agreement between the two brothers, Sukhbir had to move to Central politics, and Manpreet had to become his heir-apparent in Punjab. His revelations, which he made in an interview to a Punjab Daily, have brought forth the long simmering differences among the Badal family as to who would succeed Chief Minister Badal when he retires. "It was of course Manpreet Singh," said Gurdas Badal.
According to SAD general secretary Maheshinder Singh Grewal: "It is pertinent to mention here that Gurdas Singh Badal revealed in the interview that he and Parkash Singh Badal decided to keep Sukhbir in Central politics and Manpreet was to be the Chief Minister of the State, but with the induction of Sukhbir in State politics, the way for Manpreet's becoming Chief Minister had been blocked and Manpreet was left with no other option than quitting the Government as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal."
Though the SAD is trying to attack Manpreet saying that he was overambitious and that is why he chose to revolt, the issue has once again brought out the fact that at one time Chief Minister Badal, himself, was keen to declare Manpreet as his heir-apparent. Grewal said that nobody should have any doubt regarding Manpreet's narrow political ambition which led to compelling circumstances for his ouster from the party and the Government, which was countered by a supporter of Manpreet, who said that in politics everybody has ambition.
"Manpreet has justified ambition to grow bigger than others in State politics. Sukhbir Singh Badal has also become Deputy Chief Minister with hopes of donning the mantle of Chief Ministership as soon as possible," he said. Gurdas Badal has also said that Manpreet would not resign his Gidderbaha seat in Muktsar district.
