The last thrust with closed-door meetings

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 27

On the eve of polling, the five major candidates kept their guard on Sunday. Though campaigning came to an end on Saturday, the main contestants started contacting voters personally to seek votes.

Congress candidate Randeep Surjewala continued his campaign in a different manner. He visited families of his supporters in town and some villages and reviewed polling arrangements. He urged the electorate to come out of their houses to exercise their franchise.

He said he had gone to the people on the plank of changing the lives. “I have been able to deliver my message to the electorate and hope to romp home,” he said.

Krishan Middha of the BJP remained busy as usual on Sunday and held meetings in his office with representatives of various communities.

“Only 24 hours are left and so there is no question of rest today. We met several persons in office and got feedback from the field about the response among the electorate. Though it is going to be an easy victory, we are in no way getting complacent,” says Mohit Sharma, personal assistant to Middha.

Umed Singh Redhu of the INLD continued with personal meetings with his supporters on the eve of polling. When contacted, he and his son Rohit said they were too busy to take a call.

“Today being the last day before polling, it was a bit more hectic as we had to meet people personally. A lot of arrangements have to be made for polling”, said Rohit.

Jannayak Janta Party-supported Digvijay Chautala remained busy with meetings in the party office and residences of supporters.

After weeks of hectic campaigning while on the move, he met a number of voters in Jind and some villages who were upset with him or his elder brother Dushyant Chautala in a bid to mollify them.

“It was a day of drawing room meetings. We chalked out our strategy for booth management and deployed supporters at designated places. I am confident of victory with a massive margin,” he said.

Vinod Kumar Asri of the Loktantra Suraksha Party said he was happy to see the response of the people during campaigning and was hopeful of his victory in the byelection.

“I met several people who visited the party office today. Some of my supporters invited me to their houses in the town and adjoining villages. Today was no different from other days of campaigning as I remained on the move,” he said.