LAMBI (PUNJAB): Even as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Prakash Singh Badal has remained undefeated from Lambi assembly constituency since 1997, this time he is facing a stiff challenge on his home turf from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress .
Locals here say they want a change this time but Badalโs loyalists remain defiant.
Badal, whose palatial residence is situated in Badal village, three kilometer away from small Lambi town can be easily differentiated with other villages of this assembly seat.
Thevillage boasts of a sports stadium and several other facilities as compared to other villages.
Speaking to The New Indian outside Badalโs residence, Gagandeep Singh, a local says, โHe (Prakash Singh Badal) is a ground leader. We have not thought about any other leader and he treats everyone here like his family.โ
He further said that development during the time of Badal government a lot of development took place. He didnโt differentiate with any other districts in terms of development.
Another local, Gurmeet Singh also voiced for AAP and said that this time people want change as there has no development in the assembly seat.
โHe has brought development in his own village. The SAD and Congress did corruption alternately here so people will give a chance to AAP,โ he added.
Another resident of Lambi Tozzy Lambi said, โFor them (Badals) development means making galli and roads in villages. Here we have seen SAD and Congress government alternately. But this is for the first time that SAD is facing a competition from a new party.โ
Another resident of Lambi ,Abhijeet said that earlier Badal would never visit people during the elections in Lambi. โIt is due to fear of AAP that has forced him to go our and campaign in the elections,โ
Gopi Singh in Lambi town, however, had a different view as he openly supports AAP in the assembly elections.
He said that the unemployment will dominate the elections.
โYouths have been unable to get jobs and employment is a major issue. The youth here want AAP and its candidate Gurmeet Singh Khudian,โ he said.
โAnd these are only reasons why we want to vote for a change this time,โ he added.
Congress will not get more than 15,000 votes and this time they will not won. โThe Congress and the SAD had been playing a friendly match here in Lambi but this time we will vote for the AAP,โ Abhijeet added.
Another local at Badal village Manpreet Singh, however, said, โWe hope that he should once again lead from Badal and win from more.margin this time as he has helped every people over here.โ
When asked about SADโs differences with the, BJP and factionalism resulting , Singh said, โHe holds a lot of respect for farmers and as he has also been a farmer so he knows the issues and pains of farmers. So he and his party decided to do everything for the farmers.โ
Another villagers Sardar Nakshatra Singh said, โWe get a lot of energy from Badal as this age he is still campaigning and meeting people personally. So people need to learn from him that it is hard work that pays. And even we met him in the morning and then he left for villages to meet people and campaign for the party.โ
He also said that this time people will ensure that he wins from more than 30,000 vote margin.
