Will be powerful voice of Amritsar in Delhi: Jaitley

“He (Amarinder) belongs to a party which has committed large number of improprieties and atrocities against the Sikhs. He can't distance himself from that.

“Secondly, Amritsar is a city where under BJP and Akalis and Punjab as a state social harmony has been the best and therefore, this is the state where there is no religious divide, neither do we try and create one,” Jaitley said.

He was replying to a question whether the fact that the majority of 64 per cent voters in Amritsar were Sikhs and the fact that Amarinder had protested against Operation Bluestar and quit his Lok Sabha seat and the Congress party were formidable factors against him.

“I am feeling very comfortable. There is a groundswell against the Congress. Amritsar is probably one of the most hospitable cities in India and the affection that I have received from people in the initial days is very touching.