SAD-BJP IN POLL MODE

Amitabh Shukla / Chandigarh

With elections a little over seven months away, the ruling SAD-BJP in Punjab is on a poll mode. Desperate to buck the electoral trend and return back to power again, it has been making a new announcement almost everyday for the last couple of months.

Interestingly, in these announcements, there has been something for every section of the population. There has been a bonanza for the farmers - the largest support base of the Akali Dal. But other section of the population has not been left untouched - be it the voters in the urban areas, those who live in the countryside, professionals like teachers and government employees and even sections like women, students and children.

The latest announcement came on Tuesday with the decision to provide free education to girl students’ upto Class 12, giving bicycles to 1.46 lakh girl students of Class 11 and 12 and furniture for 4000 schools.

Apart from specific schemes targeted at a specific section, the Punjab government also brought in the Right to Service Ordinance, wherein every section can demand delivery of services in a time-bound manner.

It remains to be seen, how many of these announcements, most of them having financial implications, are implemented before the polls. But the ruling combination is making the right noise at the right time as a part of a concerted poll strategy to outsmart its opponents.

Fighting anti-incumbency, a reinvigorated SAD under the presidentship of Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, is taking the battle to the enemy camp (Congress, headed by Captain Amarinder Singh).

What has given hope to the SAD-BJP combine and is firing its optimism in the run-up to the polls is the repeat performance of some of their allies. Nitish Kumar in Bihar, a long standing partner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) like the SAD, romped home successfully on the development agenda.

Moreover, SAD’s partner BJP too has managed to beat anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Even in neighbouring Haryana, Congress led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda returned back to power, albeit with reduced numbers. But the feat remains unparalleled, giving hope to the ruling alliance in Punjab.

“Though Punjab has not seen the ruling party voted back to power in the recent times, it is not a fait accompli. Politics and elections cannot be predicted like this. We have seen ruling parties coming back to power with improved majority. Bihar is a case in point,” a SAD leader said.

Of late what has given hope to SAD-BJP combine is the belligerent mood amongst the middle class against the menace of corruption at the national level. Even though Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev are hogging the headlines, Congress is feeling the pinch, both at the state level in Punjab and also across the country.

Sensing the opportunity, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir are attacking the Congress everyday on the issue of corruption. Though the BJP too was affected by allegations leading to the resignation of all its ministers in the state, the ruling combine has effectively managed to downplay the issue and it is no longer being discussed and talked about in the political circles as the Hazare and Ramdev whirlwind hit the national conscience.

Political pundits here point out that it is too early to stick one’s neck out at this juncture and be conclusive about the polls. “A lot of water would flow in the Satluj and Beas from now till the elections. A lot of charges and counter charges would be made. But one thing is certain; it is not a cake walk for either of the two rivals, SAD-BJP and the Congress. Both face a tough battle ahead”, summed up a Congress leader.

(The Pioneer, June 22, 2011)