Donning new role, General goes door to door

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 12

“Without pity, without remorse” is how former chief of the Indian Army General Joginder Jaswant terms the poll battle against Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh.

Ensuring to reach at every gathering at the scheduled time, the former Army man is finding it tough to go by the clock as was the case in the Army where punctuality was a key factor to success.

Walking through the dusty lanes in the inner heart of the city, guided by his local SAD workers as navigators, former Army chief and Akali Dal candidate from Patiala Gen JJ Singh promises “to be a de facto” MLA from Patiala and not like Capt Amarinder and his wife Preneet Kaur, incumbent Patiala MLA, whom he terms as “dummy leaders”.

Talking about the state politics and his stint as Army chief JJ Singh has a lot to talk about his battles fought in the past and his being a tough task master. “I will ensure that the people of Patiala see development and get rid of corruption,” he says as he skips talking about the local issues that are haunting the city for the past few years.

“Battle has just started and I am happy with the crowd response. Door-to-door campaigning is something which is new for me but I have started liking it,” says the 71-year old.

As a former Army chief, Gen JJ Singh gets some curious onlookers in the gathering who wants to have a glimpse of his. “I will stay here, roam the streets like a commoner and despite being in the Army and then a Governor, I assure you that you would see me often,” he says.

Addressing a gathering in the Sher-e-Punjab market, majority consisting of urban Sikhs, the talking point is the cut beard supported by Gen JJ Singh. A few Akali workers are seen smiling at each other on their party now fielding a Sikh with his beard trimmed. “Times have changed. Liquor traders, Sikhs with trimmed beard, realty tycoons and parachute candidates are all making hay in SAD. We have little choice but to accompany them as the party wants it,” they said.

To a query, Singh claims that all is well within the party and the local Akali workers are now standing like a wall with him. Whatever be the case, the Patiala voters have an interesting choice to make.