Punjab all set for clash of personalities

AAP REMAINS A WILD CARD IN PUNJAB ELECTIONS; KEJRIWAL HAS DECIDED TO SET UP CAMP SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE POLLS

CHANDIGARH: Captain Amarinder Singh’s appointment as the Punjab Congress chief has spiked the political temperature in the state to feverish levels, more than a year before the state goes to polls.

Known for his confrontationist politics, Amarinder has thrown the gauntlet at the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) by announcing to hold his coronation rally at Bathinda — the bastion of the Badals.

SAD, which managed to navigate itself through a politico-religion minefield after incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and police firing on protesters, turned the debate into a political slugfest by accusing the Congress of flirting with radicals.

But the Congress scored a match-point by bringing back Amarinder to the helm of affairs in Punjab.

The Badals are pinning their hopes on the fact that Amarinder — not known to be a vigorous campaigner — may not be able to run a marathon.

Meanwhile, Amarinder is in comfortable territory while dealing with Badals, especially after they have been tamed by recent setbacks. It is his combat strategy for Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party — a third alternative in Punjab’s traditionally bipolar politics — which will decide the fortunes of the grand old party in 2017.

AAP remains a wild card in Punjab elections. Kejriwal has decided to set up camp six months before the elections to spin out a victory from voters “disillusioned” by the SAD and Congress.

Amarinder, who has more than once admitted earlier that AAP is a formidable contender, knows too well that Kejriwal’s party may be principal player in the polls.

Punjab is all set for clash of personalities — Captain versus Badal versus Kejriwal. The new Congress state president has hit the ground running. The Akalis are trying to regain “lost ground” while Kejriwal is yet to emerge on the poll scene. It will be a marathon, not a sprint, and political parties would have to be prepared for the long haul to emerge victorious.