Ghatto Ghatt Mann vikau ta nahi.
“At least Mann can not sell his conscience,” the people say.
It could also be a fine combination of Hindu-Sikh communities as Arvind Kejriwal and his team is there besides Bhagwant Singh Mann which may have won the trust of all.
Even the voters allegedly accepted money, ironically from both the parties in some cases, but voted for a change, dreaming of a new era to usher in.
They dreamt of the rise of a new Sun, by pinning all the hopes on AAP, without considering its any candidates.
The voters would only say that they have voted for “Jharu” ,Bhagwant Singh Mann or Kejriwal.
“At least, We only see a ray of hope from this party. Kejriwal has done something in Delhi and Bhagwant Mann is a ground to earth man, he is not tainted,” said Ramesh Kumar, a shopkeeper from Kotkapura.
“During Covid-19 pandemic, our business shut down,which had been crawling over the years, but we had to pay full fees to schools. I think all the businesses including private educational institutions are being run by very influential people, allegedly by the mafia, and they have a nexus with the politicians,” he said.
The voters did not even care for the Chamchas(proteges) of the politicians, who went all out to help win their masters so that they could also tap the profit in days to come by allegedly being partners to their illegal deals, but voters did not accept their influence this time like in 2014.
Though Parliament elections are different because money and other lurements are not there.
A shrewd move to divide the voters on cast basis(dalit factor) by congress fell flat and even its "dalit CM face also lost".
Even the alleged role of the traditional media also failed to give any shape to the fluid state of voters.
I still remember, when Yojendra Yadav, a close aide of Kejriwal then campaigning for AAP in Faridkot, touched on the issues of drugs which were destroying a generation of Punjab.
“Punjab has lost the last generation to militancy and this one is going to be destroyed by drugs,”Yogendra Yadav had said in his pitched, elaborative and touching speech.
But the national newspaper in which I was working then, published only a few lines of the nearly 400 story as it was then all out to favour SAD.
But now, the web channels,alternative media and social media platforms have deflated the influence of the traditional media, electronic and print.
Now the people call that lap dog media.
“We are tired of the mopolized system which only favours influential and politically connected. So only AAP is a ray of hope for us.We have given them one chance.If they do not do something better than the others, they will not do bad either,” said Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Faridkot.
Though Navjot Singh Sidhu has himself lost the elections, yet his fight against the system went in favour of AAP.
When congress tried to push its government again as "old wine in new bottle" fashion, by only dethroning Captain Amrinder Singh,it was Sidhu who fought tooth and nail against his own party for a change.
Sidhu's fight against the system contributed a lot to generate an awareness among the educated people though his narrative was played down by rivals calling him anti party and "foul mouthed".
Sidhu had indirectly said in his interviews that now the people have another option before them as well if congress fails to deliver.
The charm of Bhagwant Mann also appealed to the votres and after he was declared the CM face, the situation started changing on the ground.
Even when the SAD and congress did not find any allegation against Mann, they propped up the issue of his drinking, which was outrightly rejected by the voters.
“This is his personal life.Many drink here and we shall see if he drinks during his public life,” the voters could be heard replying to this question.
Now the People of Punjab have taken an initiative to opt for the AAP, which will have to tread very cautiously. Breach of trust and any mistake would also cost it dear because there would be many around to corner it besides people of Punjab.
AAP must understand that any next elections would be fought by it on its performance like others.Punjab has given it one chance now.
It is also pertinent to mention that during the last 5 years, the AAP has not done anything considerable to protect the rights of Punjab as opposition, but now it will have to deliver.