Common polling booth of SAD, Cong at Lambi village

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), May 22

Residents of Sarawan Bodla village in the Lambi Assembly segment have set an example for others to follow. Despite the high-stake battle in Bathinda between SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring of the Congress, supporters of both parties set up a common booth outside the polling stations here on May 19.

This initiative of brotherhood has won many hearts and is being praised by residents of other neighbouring villages as well.

Sarawan Bodla village has maximum population of Jat Sikh community who migrated from Pakistan. The village has nearly 4,000 voters.

Talking to The Tribune, Akali leader Gurjeet Singh, sarpanch of Sarawan Bodla village, said, “This was the first time when we decided to set up common polling booths of the SAD and the Congress. We sat under the same tent and shared eatables on the polling day. This step was taken to keep the brotherhood intact after the elections. Earlier, we have always set up different polling booths.”

“Now we have decided to continue this practice in future as well. A number of people are congratulating us for this initiative. Even some officers, who belong to this village, at present posted in different parts of the state, have appreciated this step,” he added.

Swarn Singh of Kabarwala village said, “The panchayats or elderly residents of other villages too should think about it. Such practices need to be followed to maintain brotherhood. It will make the elections violence-free.”