You could be forgiven for thinking that there are only two candidates in fray for Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, even as the state goes to polls on April 30, just 15 days ahead, even as 18 want to be the MP. Congress candidate Ambika Soni and Prem Singh Chandumajra of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are the only ones seen campaigning with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) not seen or heard.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate, KS Makhan, also a Punjabi singer, is yet to even visit SAS Nagar, which has 2.5 lakh voters. For some reason, he is focusing on Nawanshahr.
AAP candidate Himmat Singh Shergill’s campaign is also subdued with some sections of the voters not even aware that he is in the fray.
During an HT event on April 11 (Friday) involving young voters held in Ropar, most of the gathering had never heard the name of AAP candidate Shergill, and knew Makhan’s credentials as a singer and not as candidate.
When contacted, AAP SAS Nagar convener Ajit Singh Bambrah claimed, “We do not have enough money for our campaign, but we are sure of our win as we are visiting all villages in constituency and door to door campaign,” he added.
AAP’s Himmat Singh Shergill told HT, “My campaign is going well and I even organised a road show in SAS Nagar, but it up to the media persons to carry that or not. As far as visit of Arvind Kejriwal to the constituency is concerned, he visited Khatkar kalan village in Nawanshahr on Saturday and this is part of Anandpur Sahib constituency only. Kejriwal is very busy and has to think of the country.”
{{/usCountry}}AAP’s Himmat Singh Shergill told HT, “My campaign is going well and I even organised a road show in SAS Nagar, but it up to the media persons to carry that or not. As far as visit of Arvind Kejriwal to the constituency is concerned, he visited Khatkar kalan village in Nawanshahr on Saturday and this is part of Anandpur Sahib constituency only. Kejriwal is very busy and has to think of the country.”
{{/usCountry}}KS Makhan claimed: “We are campaigning in Ropar now and our programme in SAS Nagar will begin after April 16.”However, both SAD and Cong ress candidates have planned their campaign and conduct a public meeting a day in every district of the constituency. The media also gets regular updates on their schedules.