CAMPAIGN TRAIL: CM campaigns for Harsimrat; Eyes highest margin

CAMPAIGN TRAILCM campaigns for Harsimrat 

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, April 2
It is eight in the morning and 86-year-old Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is touring villages in his home turf – Lambi assembly segment, which is part of the Bathinda parliamentary constituency – not only to secure victory for his daughter-in-law, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, but also to record the highest victory margin.

Parkash Singh Badal addressing public in a Lambi village.

Notwithstanding his busy schedule, he has not missed his routine of exercising for an hour and reciting “path” for almost the same period of time, as he has started waking up around 4.30 am, a bit earlier than usual.

Harsimrat is contesting against her estranged brother-in-law, People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Badal.

In all villages he visits, Badal urges people, “Eh aapni aan te shaan di gall hai. Sirf jittna hi nahi, ek nava record vi banuana hai te oh vi sirf Punjab nahi poore desh ch sabh ton vaddi jitt da. (This is the matter of our respect and reputation. We not only want to win, but win with the highest margin of votes ever, not only in Punjab, but in the entire country).”

As Badal’s cavalcade reaches the first village of Roranwali of his day’s schedule at 8.15 am, he enters the “pandal”, greets everyone with “Sat Sri Akal” and starts the speech, “The time is running out. The Lok Sabha elections are approaching fast. Do cast your vote, keeping in mind the important issues.”

Then he trains guns on the Congress, saying that the party ruled for 10 years, but failed on all fronts. “The UPA-led Congress Government failed to protect the country from neighbouring countries. Sometimes, China enters our territory and, sometimes, Pakistan beheads our brave soldiers,” he says.

The CM appeals to people to help in forming the government led by BJP’s PM pick Narendra Modi.

Later, he raises the issues related to the state, stressing on agriculture, and assures to get maximum financial assistance from the Centre, if the NDA comes to power.

Then he turns to Harsimrat. “Last time, Capt Amarinder Singh’s son was defeated by maximum votes from here. This time, do the same thing by defeating Manpreet.”

Turning a bit emotional, Badal says: “The party (SAD) gave him (Manpreet) everything. I left my constituency for him, even made him the Finance Minister. Still, he left us. Now, tell me what more can the party do for him. Still he did not give respect to the party, which is like the mother of a person.”

In the same breath, he cautions public. “Don’t fall prey to the conspiracy of Congress, which has joined hand with Manpreet. He had taken oath in the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh while forming his party, promising to bring some ‘reforms’. But the present situation is that the Sanjha Morcha formed by Manpreet has dismantled. The PPP has also met with the same fate, as all of its leaders have left.”

Cong, a divided house: Badal

Speaking to The Tribune, Badal took potshots at the Congress. “The internal fight within the state Congress is set to increase, as state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa has remarked that he would be the next Chief Minister. The remark will not go down well with a section of the Congress leaders,” the Chief Minister said.

When asked which contest is tough, Amritsar or Bathinda, Badal said: “There is no competition anywhere. We will win all 13 seats in the state.”

Badal is holding public meetings from 8 am to 6 pm every day, sleeps around 9.30 pm to make another early morning start. The only thing which he misses in villages is the timely delivery of newspapers.

Eyes highest marginWe not only want to win in Bathinda, but win with the highest margin of votes ever, not only in Punjab, but in the entire country.