Physically calm, mentally restless

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 20

A day after the conclusion of the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, most of the candidates and their close supporters preferred to stay home and relax. There were some who kept on meeting their supporters to review their functioning so far, apparently anxious over the results slated for May 23. They continue to exude confidence regarding their victory.

For the past over a month, political activists of different parties had been busy campaigning day and night.

Congress candidate and sitting Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla said, “My son is home from abroad and I have not been able to spend quality time with him. I have already asked him to cancel his programmes and stay with me for the next two days.” Aujla said that after announcement of results, he would not be able to give time to his family.

Aujla spent the day with his family and close friends at home. Talking about the election outcome, he said that exit poll results were quite different from what would be the ground reality. When asked about the low poll percentage and its impact on the results, he said that he would win with a huge margin and it would not have any impact on the overall result. “The workers of the SAD-BJP were unhappy because of desecration incidents and they may haven’t voted,” he said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was made party candidate around six months in advance, addressed a party meeting. Still in poll mode, he said he was reviewing the election and was exhorting party workers to start working for the 2022 Assembly elections.

CPI leader and Punjab Democratic Alliance candidate Daswinder Kaur said he met party leaders at her office between 10 am and 6 pm and held discussions with them. She said she felt relaxed in the company of people who had been working tirelessly for her during the elections.

BJP candidate and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has also reportedly left for his home in Delhi. Puri had been putting up in the city along with his wife for the last three weeks.

Even the supporters of the candidates and family members had a relaxed time as most of them had been busy managing campaigning and rallies.

What they did

• Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla stayed home. He said that he couldn’t spend quality time with his son who returned home from abroad. Talking about the election outcome, he said that exit poll results were quite different from what would be the ground reality. He is optimistic about his win.
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal is still in poll mode. He reviewed the functioning of his party workers and exhorted them to start working for the 2022 Assembly elections.
• Punjab Democratic Alliance candidate Daswinder Kaur says he met party leaders at her office held discussions with them. She said she felt relaxed in the company of people who had been working tirelessly for her during the elections.
• BJP candidate Hardeep Singh Puri is said to have left for his home in Delhi. Puri had been putting up in the city along with his wife for the last three weeks.