Dry day,expense fear: Leaders postpone victory celebrations

It had been a long wait for the results – 36 days to be precise – but it would be subdued celebrations for those emerging victorious on March 6. With election commission keeping a hawk’s eye on every penny being spent by them,the political parties are planning to go for mega-celebrations only the next day. The counting day being a dry day is another dampener for a state ,which likes to raise a toast and down a few pegs for every celebration.

Till then,the candidates may only exchange garlands,participate in roadshows and serve laddoos to the supporters.

“We have no objections to the celebration plans of candidates,but any expenditure on March 6 would be added to their account,” Chief Election Commissioner,Punjab,Kusumjit Sidhu,said.

Such is the ‘fear’ of being caught on the EC radar that the Congress candidate from Dakha,Jassi Khangura,who booked a resort for celebrations on March 6 evening,got it cancelled.

Khangura’s office,however,said the booking was cancelled as election commission had earlier stated that the money spent on polling agents would be credited to candidate’s expenses. The EC,they claimed,later revoked the instruction.

Congress candidate from Ludhiana West,Bharat Bhushan,too plans to go easy on celebrations.”If all goes well,we would hold a victory procession and organise a langar for the workers in the evening. The major celebrations will take place in the coming week,” he said.

Simarjit Singh Bains,the Independent candidate from Atam Nagar,is confident of winning the seat,but will only visit “mandir and gurdwara to thank god and celebrations,if any,would take place after a week.” “On March 6,the celebrations will be done keeping the expenditure limit in mind,” he added. It may be mentioned that Bains has already spent nearly Rs 10 lakh on the election campaign.

Congress candidate from Sardulgarh Ajit Inder Singh Moffar would meet “my party President after the election result and I am hopeful of the victory.” “Celebrations,if any,will be done after depositing the election registers with the EC,” he added

Amrik Singh Dhillon,who is contesting from Samrala,added the celebrations would be a low-key affair despite the fact that “our expenditure is within the limit.”