Bathinda, February 9
Amidst freewheeling charges and counter-charges and non-issues, corruption has certainly become a major issue in the no-holds barred Punjab Assembly elections. The Congress has been on the offensive on this count, cashing in on the general perception of "loose ends" in the working and operation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government during the past five years or so.
Rumours have been in the air as to who made what and for whom. Also, how much was invested abroad in hotels and farmlands. Everybody knows that the politico-administrative corruption in this country is like a fish. No one can tell whether the "fish" is drinking water or not! Hence, the benefit of the doubt in the absence of concrete evidence.
The Congress has been going bang, bang in its advertisement campaign. "Remove Badal, save Punjab," screams its advertisement since "the only business they (SAD-BJP) know is of making money."
The SAD-BJP campaign hits back: "900 chuhey kha key, billi chali haj ko."
The battle has taken the legal turn with the filing of a defamation case against Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh and Mrs Sonia Gandhi, seeking Rs 5 crore in damages. Well, the shadow-boxing on corruption continues unabated. Several knowledgeable persons, however, recall the words of Panthic Morcha leader Gurcharan Singh Tohra: "Ek loot ke ja rahey hain, te dujey lootan waste ah rahey han."
I asked Capt Amarinder Singh: "Why has the Congress indulged in this negative campaign?"
His reply was simple and candid: "I mean business. Corruption has done no good. It has stalled the state's development process. I want a total war on corrupt practices. Apart from exposing the present government, I would like to give a clear signal to my own partymen that corruption will not pay if we are voted to power."
To my next query whether he would be able to handle potentially known corrupt persons around him, his quick reply was: " I do not wish to make any tall promises. All I can say is I will do my best and I mean it."
During a quick round of his constituency in Patiala, I noticed the general perception that the Maharaja, as he is popularly called, is "a non-corruptible person". The general complaint about him was that "he is not easily approachable".
Capt Amarinder Singh is trying his best to come out of his "Maharaja" mould. But it is not all that easy.
" I do not know why people still accuse me of being lethargic and easy." I am a different person. I am committed to development of the state and will ensure growth and prosperity of the people," he told me.
The present election is surely not a cakewalk for any candidate and party. The fate in every constituency will be decided on an overall goodwill a party and its candidate enjoy on the basis of reputation and performance for the good of the people in his or her area.
I asked a fruit seller at Sangrur: "Who is going to win?"
Prompt was his reply:" Rab jaane!" (Only God knows).
"But what has your 'Rab' told you?" I asked.
"Mera Rab roz roz badalda rehanda hai" (My God keeps changing everyday), he said effortlessly. Herein lies the excitement of the race slated for February 13.
The stakes are high. No leader is taking chances. As I went round several villages in the Malwa region from Patiala to Bathinda, I found that flags of various contestants co-exist. I asked a villager: "Why so many flags! Whom are you going to support?"
"I support whosoever comes to me. I keep my options open. Why should I annoy any candidate and invite his anger later?" he remarked.
This speaks volumes for the maturity of the Punjab voter. Again, herein lies the problem for the SAD-BJP establishment in Punjab's election mela.
The Malwa region is traditionally a stronghold of the Akalis. Today it is vulnerable, to the advantage of the Congress.
I met a number of people, party workers and some candidates who were available during my whirlwind tour. I also met a group of independent research persons monitoring issues and responses at the grassroots level. I also ran into Mr Surinder Singla, a Congress candidate from Bathinda. They all are aware of the problems of poverty and backwardness of the area. But, unfortunately, these issues are not getting the right focus in the campaign of various parties. The irony of the situation is that the party which brought the crucial amendment on the introduction of panchayati raj is not focussing on the devolution of power and the strengthening of the units of the local self-government.
The voters are, of course, keeping their hopes alive. They want development of their villages and devolution of power to the panchayats. That is why there is a growing desire for change among new faces, if they are promising and also those who have done some development work for their villages. Punjab's poll test this time is a mixed bag of promises and performance.
