Resurgent BSP could spell trouble for Cong

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 6

Traditionally a Congress stronghold, it may not be a smooth ride for the party this time with a rejuvenated BSP drawing crowds. Congress’ sitting MP and candidate Chaudhary Santokh Singh is battling on several fronts and has faced angry protests.

Chaudhary, who won with a margin of 70,981 votes in 2014, was confident of a win after the SAD-BJP fielded an elderly Charanjit Atwal. But there seems to be an undercurrent against him. Chaudhary has faced a spate of protests in the past few days with employees’ associations questioning him on the work done by him as well as promises yet to be honoured by his government. 

He has failed to pull crowds, with people ignoring his speeches. The SAD social media team has been uploading videos on protests during his rallies and the thin gathering.

Congress leaders have not put all their weight behind the party candidate. Former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur has accused Chaudhary of arrogance, claiming he had not bothered to approach him but would campaign for the “party’s victory to see Rahul Gandhi as next PM.” 

Nakodar ex-MLA Jagbir Brar and ex-minister Amarjit Samra are not accompanying Chaudhary to the  rallies. Former minister MS Kaypee and Jalandhar West MLA Sushil Rinku are seen at rallies, posing for pictures, but are doing little else. 

The BJP is going all out to ensure  Atwal’s win. The Congress failed to rope in Safai Mazdoor Union chief and Valmiki leader Chandan Grewal. This may cost the party some votes. There are nearly 1.75 lakh Valmiki voters in the constituency against 3.50 lakh  of the Ravidasia community, to which Chaudhary belongs. The biggest headache for the Congress is a resurgent BSP.  The party has fielded a young Balwinder Kumar (39), who is  from the ranks. He has been getting an impressive response. Masters in English and Mass Communication, he worked with an English daily earlier.  His campaigning has been innovative. “MP Balwinder hona chaheeda” song is proving to be a hit. 

“In 2009, BSP’s Surjit Singh polled 93,592 votes. The party will do better this time as it is a part of the Punjab Democratic Alliance that comprises six parties”, explains writer Des Raj Kali. Sukhpal Khaira has created a dent in the AAP vote bank. In 2014, the party had polled over 2.5 lakh votes. With AAP candidate Justice Jora Singh (Rtd) failing to get much support, it remains to be seen which way the voter goes.