Punjab Poll 2012: Campaigning in Punjab picks up pace

Campaigning in the state has picked up pace. Barbs are getting nastier and charges are flying thick and fast.

As January 30th draws nearer, politicians are becoming louder. The high-stake elections to the 117-seat Punjab assembly has got all the three main players, Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and People’s Party of Punjab, into overdrive. All of them have intensified their election campaigns.

The Congress took its poll show to Kharar on Tuesday. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committe presiden Capt Amarinder Singh and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni attended the rally.

In a boost for the Congress, senior Akali leader and renowned Sikh scholar Manjit Singh Calcutta on Tuesday extended his support to the party…

He said only Congress under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh could save Punjab from the disaster that Akalis led by Parkash Singh Badal had pushed it into.

But the rebels could spoil the Congress’ party. They number at least 20. One of them is Harbans Lal. He is contesting as an Independent from Fatehgarh Sahib.

For the Akalis, Sukhbir Singh Badal is leading the poll charge. He was in Garhshankar, seeking votes for SAD-BJP candidate Surinder Singh Bhulewal. Development was, Sukhbir said, his party’s poll plank.

He did not stop himself from taking potshots at Congress affairs in-charge Gulchain Singh Charak on his charges that SAD was sheltering Congress rebel candidates.

On the possibility of the Election Commission sending ADGP Mohammad Mustafa as an observer to another poll-bound state for allegedly helping wife.

In this season of switching sides, it was now SAD’s turn to display Congressmen-turned-Akalis. Capt Amarinder Singh’s former Officer on Special Dut Bikramjit Singh and former secretary Daljit Singh Gill joined the party at a function in Tarn Taran.

Welcoming them into party fold, SAD candidate from Majitha and patron of Youth Akali Dal, Bikramjit Singh Majithia said the Congress had lost the battle even before its start.

For the People’s Party of Punjab, Gurdas Singh Badal held the fort. He slammed his rival from Lambi seat and elder brother Parkash Singh Badal.

Well, the barbs are only going to get nastier as January 30 comes closer.