Malwa too close, parties turn to Majha

TARN TARAN: Malwa region in Punjab is said to be witnessing a neck-and-neck fight between the Congress, BJP and the new player Aam Aadmi Party.

The home ground for both Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and de facto Congress CM face Captain Amarinder Singh, Malwa with 68 of the 117 Assembly seats has played a big role in deciding the fate of the parties, so far.

In 2012, SAD won on 34 seats, up by 15 in 2007 and Malwa emerged as a game changer for the party. However, with a close battle in the region this time, Congress has now turned towards Majha in last leg of election campaigning.

The party had lost 17 out of 25 seats in 2012 Assembly elections. Majha lies between two of the five rivers, Ravi and Sutlej, in Punjab. While Congress star campaigners will take on Badal’s in Lambi and Jalalabad, local leaders have been asked to move to Majha - comprising Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

It was in wake of Congress’ pilot project in Punjab, in 2008, with an aim to appoint delegates through the election process, under the aegis of AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi that had upped the ante of Akalis in this region. Congress drive lost steam over the time, Akalis, however, enhanced the party’s reach to every nook and corner of the state.

Akalis admit that former cricketer Navjot Sidhu’s contribution helped them regain the lost glory in Majha in 2007 and 2012. Now with Sidhu vehemently campaigning against his old party, Congress seems to have got shot in the arm at a right time.

Moreover, 2014 Parliamentary elections gave huge mandate to Captain Amarinder Singh in the region, winning by more than one lakh votes defeating BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley.

An indication that voters are shifting gears in favour of Congress. But, AAP too is hopeful of taking Akalis mainly on the issue of drugs, as Majha remains the worst affected of all. Ahead of the polls, turncoats are trying to strike major deals. AAP got a shot in arm when former Amritsar president of Shiromani Akali Dal and ex-chairman PEDA Upkar Singh Sandhu.