NRI vote scheme fails to inspire Punjab

Over 15 lakh Non-Resident Indians (NRI) don't really seem interested in the forthcoming assembly elections in Punjab despite the fact that several senior leaders, including Punjab Peoples' Party president Manpreet Singh Badal, have been making concerted efforts to seek their assistance and get them to participate.

According to the state election office, a mere 71 NRIs made a request to exercise their franchise, of which 47 of the applicants were rejected, while 24 have been allowed to cast their votes.

Officials said one the main deterrents has been the fact that the election office makes it mandatory for the NRIs to  submit a copy of the visa, which many of them might have misplaced.

Manpreet Badal undertook an hurricane tour to mobilise support among the NRIs in November last, following which he fell out of favour with his core supporters who charged him with amassing lakhs of rupees from the NRIs, surreptitiously.

At different intervals, former chief minister Amarinder Singh and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal also undertook similar trips abroad to woo the NRIs.

The NRIs wield considerable influence whenever they have been involved in social activities like building schools and hospitals, particularly in the Doaba belt of Punjab. Besides their influence among people here, it is the monetary support that they lend which has been attracting the state's political leaders to them.