Under fresh strategy, SAD shifts focus to urban areas

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 24

As the state elections are round the corner and farmers are still opposing the political leaders’ visits, the SAD has adopted a fresh strategy to mobilise its workers.

While SAD chief and Ferozepur MP Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal are nowadays mostly touring urban areas and holding public meetings, former CM Parkash Singh Badal is holding fort at his native Badal village here.

Under this strategy, Sukhbir is visiting some Hindu religious places as well. For instance, he recently paid obeisance at the Chintpurni temple in Himachal Pradesh and is scheduled to visit Salasar Dham in Rajasthan in the next few days.

Besides, the SAD has roped in former BJP leader Anil Joshi and NK Sharma to woo the urban voters by touring different Assembly segments.

In the past few days, Sukhbir has visited Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Abohar and Fazilka towns. Similarly, Harsimrat has visited Muktsar, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Moga, Baghapurana and Nihal Singhwala towns.

Meanwhile, 93-year-old Parkash Singh Badal is meeting public in his hometown. Except attending the SAD farmers’ protest in Bathinda early this month and the INLD’s rally to mark the 108th birth anniversary of former Deputy PM Chaudhary Devi Lal in Jind last month, he has not participated in any other political event and mostly remained at his home.

“The ex-CM meets people from across the state on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at his Badal village residence. Taking precautionary measures due to his old age and the pandemic, people are allowed to meet him from a distance at his camp office. He is, however, quite active and connected with every party leader through the phone,” said a senior party leader.

Notably, the SAD has declared its 77 of total 97 candidates and it has given the remaining 20 seats to its alliance partner BSP. However, in Lambi, which is the home turf of the Badals, the party has not yet opened its cards.