LAMBI : One of the most keenly watched contests is here in Lambi segment of Muktsar district.

The doyen of Punjab politics, three times Chief Minister and sitting MLA Parkash Singh Badal is, for the first time, facing a challenge from his cousin Mahesh Inder Singh (Badal). Issues have taken the back seat and personalities have taken over in this home turf of the Shiromani Akali Dal president.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has done two rounds here to garner support for Mr. Mahesh Inder in this prestigious seat. He secured the second highest votes in 2002 as an independent.

On Friday, the Chief Minister was to call on veteran Congress leader Gurdarshan Singh to seek his support but could not make it as his chopper could not land in Muktsar due to bad weather.

Mr. Gurdarshan Singh, who contested on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket from here in 2002, has a hold over a sizeable Jat Sikh and Scheduled Caste votes. He has differences with the Badals and has decided, along with his supporters, not to for vote for either. Initially, it appeared that the going would be smooth for Mr. Badal, but as the polling day draws close, the Akali workers are beginning to feel the pressure.

The 1.30 lakh-strong electorate, comprising 60 per cent Jats and 40 per cent scheduled caste Sikhs, is also in a dilemma. For them, both the Badals are "family" with whom they have social relations. There may be some criticism about the people around Mr. Badal but as far as the old warhorse is concerned, he has the standing of being a people's man.

Interestingly, 46-year-old Mr. Mahesh Inder also has the reputation of being a helpful person.

Good monsoon

The ruling Congress has "reaped" the benefit of a good monsoon in the last three years in this water-scarce cotton belt that has seen farmer suicides in the past, Along with this, the party got lucky when several farmers reaped a higher yield from indigenous Bt cotton seeds brought in from Gujarat and gave credit to the Amarinder Singh Government. They also believe the termination of the inter-State agreements on the sharing of the waters of the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej among Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, saved water for this Malwa belt.

However, as elsewhere, the Achilles heel for the Congress remains growing unemployment. Consumption of smuggled liquor and opium is also a problem.

To ensure her husband's victory, Surinder Kaur Badal has visited each of the 81 villages in the segment. She is absolutely confident of her husband's victory.

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