The turmoil generated by strong political winds lashing Punjab abated on Monday evening with the campaigning coming to a halt in the State. The effect of hot words and cold shoulders, the sweat and unending effort will now be seen on April 30, when the State goes to poll.
With the poll campaign coming to an end at 6 pm, a total of 1.95 crore voters of the state would now decide the fate of 253 candidates representing various political parties in 13 parliamentary constituencies of the state.
The last day of campaigning witnessed two rallies by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Bathinda and Faridkot lok Sabha constituencies in favour of party’s candidates, besides road shows by almost all the candidates, and the rapid tours across the constituencies.
After this, the Election Commission has clarified, no organized way for campaigning can be used, but door-to-door campaigning and via SMSes, mails, can be done.
As Rahul Gandhi addressed rally in Bathinda in favour of Congress-People’s Party of Punjab combine candidate Manpreet Badal, SAD-BJP alliance candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal conducted road shows.
Another alliance candidate from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Prem Singh Chandumajra too conducted road shows, besides couple of public meetings across the constituency. His Congress rival Ambika Soni too remained busy with road shows and public meetings, while winding up her day with interaction with the media.
Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa too made a whirlwind tour of his vast Gurdaspur constituency.
As Punjab votes on Wednesday, the fate of many political stalwarts, majority from the Congress party, would be at stake. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley pitted against Punjab’s former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh in the mother of all battles in the holy city of Amritsar.
Congress party tied up with the PPP and fielded its president Manpreet Badal as a joint candidate against his sister-in-law Harsimrat from Bathinda.
Other stalwarts include senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, State Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, leader of opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sunil Jakhar, Union Minister Preneet Kaur, Bollywood yesteryears
superstar Vinid Khanna, among others.