Gurdaspur a test for state-level leaders

CHANDIGARH: With the central leadership of the three main parties contesting the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll abstaining themselves from campaigning, the October 11 election has become a test of abilities of the state leaders of the Congress, the BJP-SAD and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

BJP candidate and businessman Swaran Salaria, who shares a personal rapport with many in the top brass, had requested some senior leaders to address a “big rally in the last leg”, but that did not bear fruit, sources said.

At one rally venue, the BJP gathered crowds claiming that finance minister Arun Jaitley would come, but he didn’t. A state leader said, “There were reports that home minister Rajnath Singh may come as Gurdaspur has a large number of voters from the Rajput community that he belongs to — as does Salaria — but he is not coming either.”

Lacking a charismatic leader in the state, BJP is largely banking on SAD, led by Sukhbir Badal. But former CM Parkash Singh Badal may not show up.

“We have decided not to hold big rallies; that is why the need of central leaders was not felt,” claimed BJP’s state in-charge Prabhat Jha, adding, “On October 7, we will hold a booth-level workers’ meet likely to be addressed by national organisational head Ram Lal. We are trying to check if the finance minister (Jaitley) can be available.”

Badal Sr, as per SAD sources, is unlikely to campaign citing health reasons. “At most, he may give one day,” said a leader.

For the Congress, CM Capt Amarinder Singh has visited the segment twice, and is scheduled to conclude at a rally on October 9. “Who is more charismatic than him in Punjab?” a top leader quipped.

For the AAP, state unit chief Bhagwant Maan and leader of opposition in the assembly Sukhpal Khaira are leading the charge.

“It takes at least three days to gather crowds for a rally. We have planned not to waste time on such shows and have decided to do door-to-door campaigning only,” said Khaira.