Bathinda village keeps poll cards close to its chest

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Chak Bakhtu (Bathinda), Jan 22

This village is keeping its cards close to its chest. Every house here has put up flags of three or four political parties, leaving the visitor guessing about the residents’ loyalties.

“These flags are a symbol of our brotherhood,” says a village elder, Darshan Singh, sitting in the sath (common place).

The villagers claim that they have unanimously decided not to show preference for any party. “We know that top leaders of various parties are in league with each other. It’s the workers who lock horns during every election,” says Bachhitar Singh.

He adds that leaders and workers of the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are out to woo them.

“Nobody stops anyone from putting up the flag of any party,” says Manjit Singh.

There is also no liquor vend here. “A vend was recently shifted from the village. Liquor is the root cause of all quarrels and we decided to keep it at an arm’s length,” says Swaran Singh.

When asked which party has the upper hand here, villagers say, “People don’t want to spell out their choice, lest it causes a rift. So, we have decided to keep mum on our support for candidates.”

The villagers claim that the youngsters seem inclined towards AAP, but hasten to add that there’s nothing to choose between the major parties.