Capt: Sure of win, party men in celebratory mode

Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 19

Polling remained largely peaceful in Patiala, barring an incident where an Akali sarpanch was arrested for misbehaving with election staff.

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who was here along with his wife Preneet Kaur, daughter Jai Inder Kaur and son Raninder Singh, to cast his vote, expressed confidence that the party would win all 13 seats in the state. “I have positive reports from across the state. Congressmen are already celebrating by distributing laddoos, indicating their level of confidence. In contrast, the entire Akali leadership is down in the dumps,” he said.

For Patiala, he said Preneet would sweep the poll by a margin of over one lakh votes. 

Meanwhile, Dr Dharamavira Gandhi said he was confident of a win. “The fight is between me and the Congress. The voters will give a befitting reply to a failed government,” claimed incumbent MP and Nawan Punjab Party candidate. “The Congress tried every trick in their book, but they failed to silence the voice of the common man,” he added.

Akali candidate Surjit Singh Rakhra claimed that the results would be surprising for all. “People have reposed their faith in the SAD-BJP not only in Patiala, but other seats as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tarsem Singh, sarpanch of Sidhuwala village, was arrested after he entered a polling booth in a drunken state and created ruckus. “He fought with some voters and abused few others. An FIR will be registered against him after his medical examination,” said Patiala SSP Mandeep Sidhu.