It’s a tough contest, a first-of-its-kind in Punjab, when an incumbent CM will fight against a former CM. The Congress holds sway over several villages, but its prospects were marred in the past due to infighting among its local leaders. However, this time, they will be united to support their CM candidate.
Well-cemented lanes with street lights installed alongside and a sprawling sports stadium welcome one to Badal village in Lambi, near Muktsar represented by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal since 1997. The five-time CM has won the constituency consecutively 4 times.
“Mukhmantri da pind hai. Police 24 ghante rehndi aa ethhe (Its CM’s village. Police remains here round the clock),” says resident Mallu Ram, 64, sitting on a cot. It is the village, where country’s oldest CM began his political career when he contested Panchayat elections and became the youngest Sarpanch.
“Badal saab da pind hai. Unna di vottan ae saari (It his Badal’s village and all vote are for him). He is like our family member and we will make him our CM for 6th time,” says another resident Nachhatar Singh, boasting of all facilities provided to the village with over 3,300 votes.
But the overt confidence has paved way for apprehension in other nearby villages ever since Punjab Congress President Captain Amarinder decided to contest from Lambi. “Dono partiyan da mukmantri aa gye. (Both parties have fielded their CM candidate),”says Labh Singh, an elderly resident, from Bhagu village, 10 kms from adjoining Haryana border.
Its a tough contest, first of its kind in Punjab, when an incumbent CM will fight against a former CM. Congress holds sway over several villages, but its prospects were marred in the past due to infighting among its local leaders. However, this time, they will be united to support their CM candidate.
CM Badal is lauded for development in area, but seething anguish against his local Halka (constituency) in-charges and party Jathedars has turned people away. SAD had appointed local Akali leaders as Halka in-charges and vested all powers with them to use funds for carrying out development in the constituency and maintain party hegemony over police and administration.
The senior leader spent crores for development, assert villagers, but add that “people under him” used the money to fill their pockets.
“Badal saab theek aa. Jede thalle rakhe si, maade, ghatiya log, au sab hadap gye. Ae karke, Badal nu doubt aa pura, kahin haar na jawaan. (Badal is good. But his local leaders, Sarpanch, Jathedars filled their pockets with party funds. That’s why Badal is worried that he might lose),” rues Hardev Singh, 70, resident of Lambi, emphasizing that people do not want to defeat him (Badal), but if he loses, his henchmen will be responsible for it.
There are murmurs that Captain Amarinder’s decision to contest from Lambi was to help the senior Badal against AAP, which has fielded Delhi MLA Jarnail Singh.
“Dona di rishtedaari hai. Paavein Captain Badal saab nu jitaave ya Badal Captain nu. Dono Kejriwal de khilaaf.(They are relatives. Either Captain will help Badal win or vice versa, it’s the same thing. Both are against Kejriwal),” says Gurbaksh Singh, from Bhagu, adding that Congress can divide the anti-incumbency votes against Badal.
AAP remains a challenge for both SAD and Congress, as it has given vent to people’s anger against the ruling government. Youth are rooting for AAP. Even though its candidate Jarnail Singh is a an MLA from Delhi, he is not perceived an outsider and has instilled confidence among people due to his Sikh roots.
“Apni takleef, gusse vaaste lad rhe ne log. Inna nu (AAP) koi jaanda hi nai si. Koi link nai, na koi vyapar- na rishetdaari. Par lokaon nu khundak aa Badal sarakar walon. Badal saab nu taahi pta laguga, jad jhatka laguga (People are fighting for their problems. Who knew about AAP before? They have no link in Punjab, no business, no relatives. But, people are angry against Akalis and want to teach them a lesson,” says Lambi resident Hardev Singh.
But people's ties with the state's oldest regional party are too deep to be severed easily in their home-turf.
“Kal je AAP aa jave, te saade logan nu kade mille? Ya Chandigarh rehange,ya Delhi. Pind ch gera maar lenge, 2-3 mahine ch. Par etthe kadi Badal saab aa gye, kade, unna da munda aa gya, pinda ch aake milde ne. Kuch vi karna pai jawe, Badal nu nai haran dewange. (If AAP wins, when will they meet us? They will either be in Chandigarh or Delhi or visit us once in 2 months. But Badal and his son (Sukhbir Badal) keep meeting us in villages. No matter what we have to do, we will not let Badal lose," says Lacchmann Singh, 78, resident of Bhagu village.
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