Lok Sabha polls 2014: Amritsar seat a matter of prestige for Badals, Captain Amarinder Singh

AMRITSAR: For a battle which is bound to have an impact on Punjab’s political future, there remains little to choose between Congress candidate Captain Amarinder Singh and BJP’s Arun Jaitley. Unfazed, AAP candidate and noted surgeon Daljit Singh too has pitched in with his bit, all set to spoil the party.

From bringing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s half-brother to the saffron party fold to receiving a shower of praise by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Jaitley ensured the much-needed last minute push to his maiden political innings as campaigning for the April 30 polling came to a close on Monday. While Jaitley purchased a Rs 1 crore house in Amritsar to get rid of the “outsider” tag, more than 150 of his relatives camped in the constituency to launch a door-to-door campaign for him.

Seemingly discontented with the “effort” put in by the Akalis, Jaitley had recently expressed his concern with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Following this, Badal paid over half a dozen visits to Amritsar, addressing rallies at Attari, Majithia, Ajnala and Rajasansi. Even the Mohalla pradhaans were directed to get pro-active and campaign for Jaitley. For, the Akalis realise that if Amarinder Singh wins, not only will it cause a major embarrassment to them as it was the Badals who had convinced Jaitley an “easy win”, but it may well mark the return of the Congress in the state.
The crop of resentment against the ruling Akali-BJP alliance is what Amarinder is looking to harvest. Widely appreciated by the agrarian society for his performance as Punjab’s chief minister – he ruled the state between 2002 and 2007 – Captain rode high on the plank of anti-incumbency against the ruling coalition this time, raising issues such as property tax, goonda raj and regularisation of illegal colonies.

Political analysts opine that wile most Sikh votes (65%) are likely to be largely bagged by Amarinder Singh, followed by AAP candidate Daljit Singh, urban votes may fall in Jaitley’s kitty.

More than the BJP, which has no party structure in Punjab’s rural belt, the onus to ensure Jaitley’s win is on the Akalis. With rural votes turning out to be the decisive factor, Amarinder Singh has an edge.