Written by: Amrita Chaudhary
3 min readBhadaur (barnala)Jan 17, 2012 02:34 AM IST
First published on: Jan 17, 2012 at 02:34 AM IST
When it comes to polls,there couldn’t have been more diametrically opposite candidates than the ones who are staking claim to the Bhadaur.
The main battle here is between the Shiromani Akali Dal’s suave,soft spoken and extremely confident retried IAS officer Darbara Singh Guru,the former,principal secretary to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Congress’ Mohammad Sadique,a singer. The only similarity between the two candidates: both have stuck to the development plank.
While Guru during his meetings and rallies harps on the development projects undertaken by the SAD government right from the construction of new roads,thermal plants,implementing Right to Service Act,the atta dal scheme or distribution of free cycle to girls,Sadique on his parts rubbishes the claims showing potholed roads,abject poverty and absence of basic health centre for the people of Bhadaur.
“The transition from a bureaucrat to a politician is a easy one. As a principal secretary,my main task was to be near the masses and as a politician this is also the first requirement,” says Guru,who has not given up his formal style of dressing for the khadi.
“I have given up putting on a neck-tie as does not gel with villagers. I got a feedback from the people that I should stick to my style of dressing as this helps people aspire for better and more,” he adds. The only other thing he has replaced is his formal shoes. He now wears a Nike “just to ensure that I do not trip while walking.”
While addressing the public,Guru does not forget to mention,that he “was not born an IAS and for the first 25 years of life lived in poverty. “I have grown up doing odd jobs,just like any other village boy and it is due to my rural connect that the CM chose me for this seat.”
Cut to the Congress camp and you find Sadique with the trademark white Shammle-wali turban in place and so is the spotless white Chaddra. Sadique,too,has replaced his traditional Punjabi jutti with sneakers. With his kohl-lined eyes and make-up,it is difficult to make out that he is 72 years old. “I am one of the oldest serving Congress workers and have been rewarded for serving the party selflessly. We are the people who came out during the peak of militancy to cull the fear of the militants. People like Guru have joined the party just 15 days back. He has not even forgotten his official days and it takes a huge effort from him to keep his hands out of his pockets,” adds Sadique.
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