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Banking on Manmohan

K.V. Prasad

In Ludhiana, Congress candidate seeks vote in the name of PM

Constituency with a predominant urban population
Shiromani Akali Dal candidate is a former Congress MP

LUDHIANA: The Congress and its leadership has repeatedly asserted that Manmohan Singh, remains its sole candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the new Lok Sabha. And this statement holds the key for the party in Punjab in general and the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency in particular.

The moment one enters this industrial-business centre of Punjab, Dr. Singh greets the voters through hoardings and posters of party candidate with a crisp message: “Vote for Manish Tewari is a vote for Manmohan Singh.”

Keen contest

With a predominant urban population, Ludhiana is witnessing a keen contest between Congress spokesman Mr. Tewari and Gurcharan Singh Galib, a former Congress MP now contesting on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket. These two prime contenders are among the 30 contestants, 19 of them independents

In 2004, the Akalis won the seat defeating Mr. Tewari but this time around, the Congress candidate who is currently a spokesman for the AICC hopes to cash in on his image as a young leader as also the fact that the magic of Dr. Singh would work in his favour.

That Dr. Singh is the first Sikh to occupy the top political post and continues to be the Congress choice for the job is being underlined across the Punjab by party campaigners, in Ludhiana. Yet the fact that he is non-Jat referred to as ‘Bhappa’ in the State is seen as a huge plus point.

The trading community and other non-Jats dominate the Ludhiana constituency, which after the last delimitation shed most of its rural segments. The rural areas where Jat Sikh peasants have an upper hand are considered to be the stronghold of the Akalis.

Just to ensure that the rural segments that have some five lakh votes do not feel neglected, Mr. Tewari’s campaign managers drew schedules re-introducing him in these areas. Yet, the Congress candidate and his supporters will be banking largely on the urban voters and hope they turn out in large numbers.

Known face

On the other hand, the soft-spoken Galib is an established face in the area and with a track record of service. Explaining his recent switch, the Akali candiate told The Hindu, that after being in the Congress for many years he can convince the voters that it is not a party the Sikhs can depend on.

“Outsider” tag

On the minus side, Mr. Tewari has been working to counter the ‘outsider’ tag while the Akalis are hoping that the damage potential of the whisper campaign on the activities of a close relative of Mr. Galib is contained.

Besides hoping that Dr. Singh’s image and work would prove decisive, the Congress hopes to dent the base of the Akalis, who are pulling out all stops to ensure the party retains the seat. And, they are banking on the grand finale — a rally of L.K. Advani with NDA leaders they hope would turn the tide.

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