Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, March 10

Even as most exit poll surveys have termed it a neck and neck between the debutant AAP and the Congress in the state, predicting a rout for the SAD-BJP alliance, local SAD leaders are not only confident about a good show by their party, but also forming the government.However, the second-rung leadership working at the grassroots level here is a bit nervous. “We are expecting the victory of Badal sahib, but the exit poll results have frightened us. It seems no party is getting the majority,” said a SAD activist from Lambi.Tejinder Singh Middukhera, an aide of the Badals who looks after some villages in Lambi, said: “All surveys will prove wrong. We will form the government for the third consecutive time and win Lambi with a huge margin.”Earlier during the day, SAD activists met the Chief Minister at his residence at Badal village. There was no hustle and bustle. Badal spent most of the time indoors. Some activists claimed that he was unwell. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal is likely to come to Badal village from Delhi tomorrow morning. The family is expected to watch the results at their residence here.Meanwhile, local residents said the CM had done a number of development works in the constituency, but they were unhappy with the local leaders. That sentiment could turn the results negative for the SAD. “We will get a CM from our constituency if Badal or Amarinder wins. Even if Jarnail wins, his chances will be bright to become the CM as he will create a history by defeating an incumbent CM and a former CM,” they said.

Supporters hopeful

• Fazilka: Even as the ruling SAD has been written off by various exit polls, party president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s supporters are hopeful that he will complete a hat-trick from Jalalabad in Fazilka district. SAD district unit president Ashok Aneja said Sukhbir would win again as he had spent about Rs 1,200 crore on development works in the constituency. “Sukhbir’s supporters will reach here in large numbers on Saturday,” said Aneja. The counting for Fazilka and Jalalabad segments will take place at DAV Centenary Public School, Fazilka. —Praful Chander Nagpal

Khaira orders laddoos

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 10

Several AAP candidates of Doaba paid obeisance at various shrines in the run-up to the counting day.HS Walia (Jalandhar Cantt) visited Patna Sahib on March 7 with a team of six volunteers from his constituency. He had visited Hazoor Sahib after the polling day. “Punjab nu bachaun vaste ardas keeti (I prayed at Patna Sahib that Punjab be saved),” Walia said.Dr Amarjit Thind (Shahkot) visited Anandpur Sahib and the Golden Temple with his family a few days ago. Today, he performed ‘ardas’ at Gurdwara Mehatpur.Confident of a win, Bholath candidate Sukhpal Khaira has already ordered a quintal of laddoos to be distributed tomorrow and prepared a schedule for a post-result roadshow. He also plans to visit the state gurdwara at Kapurthala.Khaira said, “My family visited the Golden Temple today to pay obeisance, while I met friends and supporters in Bholath.”

On the edge, leaders seek divine blessings

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 10

Ahead of the Assembly election results, contestants spent the day seeking blessings from the Almighty.Congress Malout candidate Ajaib Singh Bhatti and SAD Gidderbaha candidate Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon took part in bhog ceremonies of “akhand path” organised by them at Thehri and Chhateana villages, respectively.Congress Gidderbaha candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring’s in-laws had held a path of Sukhmani Sahib at their residence in Muktsar to pray for his victory. “I will leave for Amritsar late in the evening to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. I had also performed a religious ceremony at my residence a few days ago,” said Warring, while speaking over the phone.Similarly, AAP Muktsar candidate Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar paid obeisance at the Golden Temple today. AAP Lambi nominee Jarnail Singh too paid obeisance at a gurdwara in Delhi before leaving for Lambi today.SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal went to Delhi, where the family had reportedly held a private ceremony at their residence.Further, SAD Muktsar nominee Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi along with his aides recently went to Hazoor Sahib, Shirdi Saibaba temple and Salasar Dham to seek blessings.

Majha Cong leaders in celebratory mood

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 10

Prominent Congress leaders of Majha paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here today, whereas candidates of the SAD-BJP combine and AAP kept a low profile.SAD’s Majitha candidate Bikram Singh Majithia, who was away to Delhi, would be back late this evening. His opponent, Congress candidate Sukhraj Singh Lalli Majithia, met party workers and poll observers in his constituency before going to Ghanupur Kale to seek blessings of Baba Darshan Singh.“I have no doubts about my win. I have immense faith in Baba Ji so I visited him. My elder son Jyot Karan Singh arrived today from Canada to join us. My younger son, who is also settled in Canada, was already here to assist me in elections,” he said.Meanwhile, AAP candidate Himmat Singh Shergill too was out of city.Congress candidate from Amritsar East Navjot Singh Sidhu returned today, taking a break from his professional commitments. However, he preferred to remain confined in his palatial house.Sidhu quipped, “Kaale Badal chhatne wale hain…aur surya nikalne wala hai (Black clouds are going to be washed away, new sun will rise).” On exit poll, he said, “It’s the public verdict, just wait for a day.”There are 25 seats in Majha — Amritsar (11), Gurdaspur (7), Pathankot (3) and Tarn Taran (4). The alliance had won 24 of these seats in the 2007 elections, but its tally dropped to 17 in 2012. The Congress, which had bagged eight seats in the last elections, is out to wrest the initiative this time, banking on anti-incumbency.It’s a bi-polar contest here between the Congress and SAD-BJP combine, leaving a little scope for AAP, barring Batala, from where the party had fielded its state chief Gurpreet Singh Waraich.However, its candidates on some seats pose a threat to stalwarts like Cabinet minister and SAD leader Gulzar Singh Ranike from Attari. AAP’s Majha zone media incharge Gurbhej Singh said, “We look forward to occupy Batala, Amritsar South and Khemkaran seats.”

All eyes on battleground Malwa

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 10

All eyes are on the Malwa region, that comprises 69 of the total 117 Punjab Assembly seats. The party that conquers Malwa is almost certain to form the next government. At stake is the prestige of top leaders of all parties — CM Parkash Singh Badal is pitted against Pradesh Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh in Lambi (Capt is also fighting from Patiala), Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal faces a strong challenge from AAP’s firebrand leader Bhagwant Mann and Congress MP Ravneet Bittu in Jalalabad and in Lehragaga, former Punjab CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is pitted against Finance Minister PS Dhindsa.No matter which party wins, it is almost certain that the next Chief Minister will be from Malwa. Both the Congress and AAP are confident of forming the government even as the SAD-BJP believes that ‘unparalleled’ development in Punjab will help it sail through. The Akalis refuse to accept the exit polls, predicting their rout, harping on the their success in the recent DSGMC elections.The SAD-BJP and the Congress had won 34 and 32 seats, respectively, in Malwa during the 2012 Assembly elections. This time, the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has changed political equations in the region where is expected to do “extremely well”.