On D-Day, CM146;s cell just didn146;t stop ringing

While he kept up a calm exterior, it was clear that Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh spent an anxious day today as people turned out to vote on his five years of power. The first dampener, of course, was the pouring rain, with Amarinder admitting that he wished it would let up later in the day letting people come out to vote.

At the same time, the Captain put up a brave front, saying: 8220;Rain is a sign of success and prosperity and we are happy that Punjab is finally seeing a weather it has been waiting for.8221; Asked about the 8216;Badal8217; effect, he joked: 8220;These Badals are good for us as they have showered rain on Punjab8217;s crops and will also wash away the other Badal moving around in Punjab.8221;

The Chief Minister left his Moti Bagh Palace at around 9.45 am to cast his vote at the polling booth in Yadavindra Public School, a few yards from his house. As mediapersons crowded around him, he declared: 8220;The Congress will re-write Punjab8217;s history by getting re-elected. We are getting very good signals.8221;

He then drove straight towards Chandigarh, to monitor reports from all over Punjab, while his MP wife and other supporters stayed back to hold the fort for him. All along the way, his phone never stopped ringing, with Congress candidates and their associates calling in with trends.

8220;I will camp myself in Chandigarh, before venturing out to some areas in Mohali and around, then return,8221; he said.