VOTER PULSE: Villagers treated like royals for a day

Patiala, October 15

As local elections took place in villages on Tuesday, voters appeared to be the real winners, enjoying royal treatment and a sense of power.

From being driven around in high-end SUVs to indulging in unlimited supplies of sweets and snacks, the rural electorate found themselves at the centre of attention. Tersem Singh (60), a small-time farmer from Dalit background, shared his own surprising experience of being treated differently. “Today, I felt like a king,” he said. “Those who usually ignore me were at my feet, asking for my vote.”

Voters at Jalandhar village seek bus stop

Chakmuglani, October 15

“Sade pind bus nahi rukdi. Rukni chahidi hai,” rued a woman voter at Chakmuglani village. Sarabjit Kaur, the unanimously elected village panch of Chakmuglani village in Jalandhar, was accompanied to the polling booth by a group of women (many her neighbours) with hopes that their issues would be heard this time.

Their prime demand — a bus stop. With no buses — government or private — stopping at the village, a bus stop remains the key demand of the women who flocked to vote. Of the seven panches in the village, three are women. While the village has 948 votes, the predominant voter presence today was also that of women.

Badals stay away from polling

Muktsar, October 15

The family of former sarpanch and five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal did not cast their vote at their native village Badal on Tuesday. The list included Sukhbir Singh Badal, wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, their children Harkirat Kaur, Gurleen Kaur and Anantveer Singh.

Interestingly, his cousin and former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and his family also stayed away. Sources said that Sukhbir, along with his family, had left for Delhi two days before the election. Manpreet Badal, too, was away.

Contributed by Mohit Khanna, Aparna Banerji and Archit Watts