Compared to the straight contest between the Akali Dal-BJP combine and the Congress for the past few decades, Punjab will witness an interesting contest this time with the AAP breathing down the necks of the traditional opponents.
While the ruling alliance is upbeat about securing a third consecutive term, it faces a 10-year anti-incumbency vote. Allegations of corruption, nepotism, encouraging various mafias dealing in drugs, transport, land, sand, liquor and others, are flying thick and fast against the leaders of both parties.
“The Akalis, particularly the ruling Badal family (headed by Parkash Singh Badal), has thrived in the past decade at the cost of the state. People are fed up with their misrule and the mafia that they encouraged,” Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh, who has announced he is fighting his last election, has said.
While rural voters, mostly from an agricultural background in the Green Revolution state, form a substantial vote bank for parties, many of the rural voters are also in the age group of the younger voters.
The four parties have opted for relatively younger leaders on several seats to woo the youth this time.
