“The Assembly polls were a ‘semi-final’. Now the final match is approaching. I hope you will make us the winner again,” said Badal, while addressing a public rally at the ITI ground in Batala. The rallies were part of his statewide Vikas Yatra, meant to provide each Assembly seat with funds for development works.

“The fight would be between SAD-BJP and the Congress. The other small parties have no big role to play in Punjab politics,” he declared, while attacking the Congress for “non-development” and “social divisions” in the country.

After Batala, he addressed rallies at Aliwal and Pathankot. He distributed Rs 3.87 crore at Batala for the Municipal Committee and rural development and Rs 3.67 crore for Quadian MC and rural development. At Pathankot, he distributed funds for Sujanpur, Dinanagar, Narote Jaimal Singh and Pathankot city to the tune of over Rs 10 crore for rural development, civic amenities and water supply.

Khanna addressed the public and assured to make efforts to revive the industry at Batala, which is facing closure and shifting to other cities.