As voting day approaches, Congress and AAP each anticipate strong outcomes, with Congress leveraging extended outreach and AAP banking on its governance record
The rescheduled by-polls in Punjab’s four assembly constituencies have sparked fresh enthusiasm among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) backing the Congress party, timesofindia.indiatimes.com reported.
The new date—November 20, instead of November 13—has offered more time for NRIs, especially Congress supporters, to engage voters. This extended period, they believe, strengthens their ability to raise awareness about critical local issues and rally support for their party. Meanwhile, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) remains confident of its standing, dismissing any concerns about prolonged campaigning as detrimental to their prospects.
-
NRIs from other countries, like Germany’s Parmod Kumar, are also vocal about unaddressed issues, particularly around property disputes and governance
-
Kumar stresses the need for effective systems to manage such matters, noting that the additional time before the by-polls is a crucial opportunity for NRIs to connect with voters and convey their support for Congress
Kamal Dhaliwal, the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) Coordinator for these constituencies, has been traveling extensively since arriving from London, covering areas like Barnala, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, and Chabbewal. Dhaliwal expresses deep concern over the state of Punjab’s farmers, citing government indifference and corruption as key areas of disillusionment for NRIs. “We are disheartened by the hardships farmers face. Many of us come from farming families, and it is painful to see our fathers waiting in grain markets with little assistance,” Dhaliwal remarked.
Reflecting on the previous 2022 assembly elections, many NRIs recall playing a crucial role in AAP’s victory, urging family and friends to vote for the party. However, according to Jagtar Singh, an NRI from France, AAP has not met their expectations. “We campaigned wholeheartedly for AAP, but the reality now does not align with our hopes for Punjab,” he commented, expressing a shift in NRI sentiments toward Congress.
AAP, however, remains undeterred. Shashivir Sharma, AAP’s spokesperson, expressed confidence in the party’s success, regardless of the changed voting date. “Whether November 13 or 20, AAP will secure all seats, and opposition candidates will lose their security deposits,” Sharma asserted, underscoring AAP’s belief that extended campaigning will not impact their lead.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com
