Congress favourite in Gurdaspur even as BJP pushes the pedal in last leg

In several areas with predominantly Sikh voters, Congress candidate Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa seems to be gaining, with even local BJP leaders acknowledging Congress cadres are strong even in Hindu-dominated Pathankot, Sujanpur and Bhoa Assembly segments.

“We got off to a slow start but gradually gained momentum. Now we think we can make it to the top,” says Raju Pandit, a BJP leader in Dera Baba Nanak, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Gurdaspur proved to be a shot in the arm to the BJP in the constituency. With Christians having a sizable presence in the Gurdaspur constituency, political parties are busy courting them. “They have been voting for the Congress and the SAD, but nearly 150 pastors promised their support to the BJP,” said Raju.

On Thursday, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also toured the Gurdaspur constituency, giving rousing speeches and seeking another term for PM Modi.

“Sitting MP Sunny Deol did not visit the constituency even once, but development works continued even in his absence, so this issue won’t affect BJP votes,” said BJP supporter Ashok Salaria in Pathankot.

In Sikh-dominated Dera Baba Nanak, BJP workers are going around, highlighting the judicious use of MPLAD funds by the absentee MP.

“The new binoculars installed at the Kartarpur Sahib viewing point have been bought from the same funds. Now a high-powered TV camera with a focus on the gurdwara in Pakistan will be set up and the footage will be screened live. There are also plans to set up a museum on Guru Nanak Dev,” a BJP supporter said.

Sukhdev Singh and Rajwinder Singh of Bhojraj village are confident of the Congress wresting the seat from the BJP. “Earlier the BJP had an alliance with the SAD and used to get votes from Hindu majority areas together with the SAD’s Sikh vote bank. This will not happen this time,” they said.

Kamaldeep Singh, a shopkeeper in Gurdaspur, said, “There will be cross-voting to the Congress as former SAD leader Ravi Karan Kahlon joined the BJP which his supporters did not like.” However, a customer at his shop said Kahlon would help the BJP. But both were unanimous about Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa being the favourite.

In Kalanaur, Harbhajan Singh, a farmer, said AAP candidate Amansher Singh (Shery Kalsi) is influential and stands the chance to win. “Randhawa will not win. AAP is in power. Powerful people in villages have to get a lot of work done from them in the next three years. They will ensure that AAP wins,” he said.

Meanwhile, a purported video of Randhawa showed him allegedly making fun of Christians doing rounds in the constituency. AAP and BJP workers in Gurdaspur said the video peeved the Christians and would harm Randhawa at the last minute.

Kanwaljit Singh Khushalpur, general secretary of Kisan Te Jawan Bhalai Union, Punjab, said, “AAP’s chances of winning are bleak as the bureaucracy did not let any good work be done. Corruption is rampant.” He, too, bets on Randhawa.

In the dying hours of the last day of the campaigning, the Congress candidate took out a roadshow in the constituency. His supporters are gung ho. Asked if Randhawa would be able to defeat BJP candidate Babbu, a Congress supporter retorted laughingly, “Keda Babbu (which Babbu)”.

The Congress candidate barely managed to win the Assembly polls in the Dera Baba Nanak seat by a few hundred votes, while BJP candidate Dinesh Singh Babbu lost to the Congress in the Sujanpur seat.