As many as 1.98 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,145 candidates in total 117 Assembly seats. With its youth battling drug menace, farmers in agrarian crisis and resentment seething due to sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, the elections will be crucial for people.
From Congress's fight for resurgence to AAP's soaring ambition to expand its smidgen of power to state's grand old party, SAD struggling to hold on the reign against fierce-anti-incumbency, the stage is set for a high-stake poll battle in Punjab, with each of the three parties ready to push the fight down to the wire.
As many as 1.98 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,145 candidates in total 117 Assembly seats. With its youth battling drug menace, farmers in agrarian crisis and resentment seething due to sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, the elections will be crucial for people.
It's a decisive battle for Congress which has gained momentum. Flagging its commitment to waive off farmer loans, jobs to youth and cutting off drug supply within a month of coming into power, party promises to bring Punjab back on track of development. With Captain Amarinder Singh at the helm, Congress has made all efforts to get Sikhs to repose their faith in it and vowing to arrest those guilty of sacrilege incidents.
The Patiala royale has announced it to be his last elections. Cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Siddu has boosted the campaign with his anti-Akali tirades. The party did not budge from its 'one family one ticket' rule and chose youth leaders.
Out of 1.98 crore voters, 29 lakhs are in the age group of 18-25 years, while those aged between 25-40 years constitute 76 lakhs and those above 60 years are 27 lakhs.
With state on the cusp of change, youth are rooting for new-entrant AAP. Unlike Congress or SAD-BJP which have ruled Punjab for decades, AAP is fuelled by its ideological fervor and does not carry the burden of failed promises.
Its appeal to restore Punjab and start a fresh innings by wiping out corruption and drug menace has found resonance among voters, especially in rural areas. It has succeeded in making inroads in Sikh voter base. It is yet to announce CM candidate, but its star campaigners Bhagwant Mann has filled that void. But, it has also hurtled from one controversy to another and recent accusations from rival parties for siding with extremist forces could prove detrimental for AAP in a sensitive state like Punjab.
Saddled with ten years anti-incumbency, Badals led SAD-BJP has been left wallowing one crisis after another. It's blamed for the drug menace and pushing farmers to brink of suicides, with its leader including Bikram Singh Majitha in the dock.
Its long kept image as the champion of Sikh rights has faced a severe jolt. The panthic vote has begun to erode post incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. The prospects were further marred after Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, whose head Gurmeet Ram Rahim is opposed by Sikhs decided to wield support for Akalis. Even though, the religious sect holds a significant sway over voters in Punjab, Dera's support to Akalis could backfire.
CONTESTS WITH HIGHEST STAKES
The election is high on symbolism, as it set to decide political fate of several key leaders. Country's oldest Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, 89 will fight against former CM Captain Amarinder from Lambi, with AAP Delhi MLA Jarnail Singh also in the fray.
All eyes would be on Jalalabad where Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is all set to push the fight down to the wire against AAP MP and star campaigner, Bhagwant Mann has been instrumental in bringing AAP in Punjabi-fold. Slain CM Beant Singh's grandson, MP Ravneet Bittu also contests from here.
It is Navjot Siddhu's first fight on Congress ticket from Amritsar (East) after he left BJP and will establishe his standing in the party. The verdict in Majitha will be crucial, where SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia will fight against AAP's another nominee for CM seat, Himmat Singh Shergill.
Former Congress CM and five-time MLA, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is struggling to stake claim to her home seat Lehragaga against Akali Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. AAP's senior most leader H S Phoolka who is also being pitched for AAP's CM face fights from Dakha. Former Army Chief (Retd), J J Singh (retd) J J Singh contests from Patiala and CM's estranged nephew, Manpreet Badal fights from Bathinda (Urban).
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