SAD set for ‘intensive’ campaign, leaders deputed for seats

The SAD had on September 26 declared Balwinder Singh Punia as its candidate at Ambala city while former Shiromani Grurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) member Balkar Singh Kallianwali has been fielded at Kallianwali.

The two constituencies have been divided into zones headed by senior leader including most of Punjab’s  cabinet ministers. They are expected to land in their assigned zones on Tuesday before starting campaigning. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir will start campaigning from October 7-8 with both expected to camp in the two constituencies for six days each.

At Kallianwali, SAD is focusing on the rural vote bank while at Ambala, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said,  the focus is on both the city and the rural areas, both of which have an almost equal number of one lakh voters each. “In the city we will work in accordance with the division of wards.

The rural areas have been divided into 14 zones and we are in the process of assigning these wards and zones to senior leaders,” Dr Cheema said.

In both the constituencies, every village has been brought under lower-rung party leaders. “In some cases, there are two or more villages under a single person. These leaders have been asked to get to work immediately and assess the ground situation in the next two to three days,” said Charnajit Singh Brar, the deputy chief minister’s media coordinator.

Despite the opposition shown by Haryana BJP leaders, the SAD is micromanaging its campaign in the two seats. Sukhbir had described the INLD-SAD alliance as “an alliance between the people of Punjab and Haryana” while announcing the party candidates.