Punjab election: Voters silent, candidates claim victory

Parvesh Sharma

Sangrur, February 20

The absence of a clear wave in favour of any political party has made it tough for poll pundits to predict the outcome of Assembly elections in Sangrur, Barnala and Malerkotla districts. The refusal of voters to show their inclination has multiplied the anxiety of senior leaders, who are contesting from the areas.

Will form govt

We will form the next government in Punjab. Our alliance is getting good support across the state. Parminder Dhindsa, SAD (sanyukt)

It’s vote for change

Everyone is supporting me. Fearing problems from other leaders, people are silently voting for AAP. Harpal Cheema, AAP

Works hailed

Development works done by me in the area have ensured massive votes in my favour. Vijay Inder Singla, Congress

Former Punjab CM and Congress candidate Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former state finance minister and top leader of SAD Sanyukt Parminder Dhindsa and former SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal from the SAD are pitted against one another from the Lehra constituency. Punjab AAP president and CM face Bhagwant Mann is contesting from Dhuri and Leader of Opposition, Punjab, and AAP MLA Harpal Singh Cheema is contesting from Dirba.

Similarly, Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla is contesting from Sangrur while another senior AAP leader and MLA, Aman Arora, is fighting from Sunam to retain his seat. In Malerkotla, minister Razia Sultana, supported by her husband and state’s ex-DGP Mohammad Mustafa, is facing a tough challenge from AAP while in Bhadaur constituency of Barnala district, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi is also facing tough contest from AAP’s Labh Singh Ugoke.

Since electioneering, people have seen twists and turns such as announcements to polarise voters on caste lines, involvement of various deras and the SFJ controversy involving AAP, so majority of voters preferred to remained silent till last moment.

“I have voted as per my choice. I won’t reveal it as it will spoil my relations with others,” said Jasmale Singh from Khanauri.

Meanwhile, leaders sounded confident. Parminder Dhindsa, SAD Sanyukt candidate from Lehra, said, “We will form the next government in Punjab as our alliance is getting good support across the state.”

AAP candidate from Dirba Harpal Cheema said, “ Fearing problems from other leaders, people are voting for AAP.”