Chill poses challenge to first time contestants

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 19

Candidates of various political parties and political activists, who have been campaigning from early morning till late evening, are facing tough task due to extreme weather conditions.

A number of candidates are contesting elections for the first time. They don’t have any such experience to work in shivering cold.

It is a well known fact that candidates from ruling and opposition parties are used to enjoying comforts of lavish lifestyle.

During elections, candidates and political activists travel on open vehicles. They sit on rooftops of four-wheelers during road shows, drive bikes during motor-cycle rallies and walk in streets while conducting door-to-door campaigns.

Usually ruling party leaders do not alight from their SUVs. A few weeks ago, an Akali minister entered into a heated argument with a policeman at venue of a rally as he did not want to alight away from stage from the SUV.

However, politicians do not easily admit that he/she is feeling uncomfortable during election campaign, but the body language expresses their worry itself. A candidate, who sat on top of a vehicle, when he was going to fill nomination papers on Tuesday, complained of fever the very next day.

When asked from Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike about campaigning in shivering cold, he said, “It is too cold, but I can’t sit inside during elections. We are wearing heavy woollen clothes.”

Jaswinder Singh, candidate from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said, “I am contesting elections for the first time, but I have experienced all kind of climate. I am a common man and used to working in all weather conditions. Before leaving job of a government teacher, I used to go to school on my bike in such extreme conditions.”

Jagmeet Singh, a local resident said, “Politicians have to project that they are also from the common masses during elections. After elections, they will not switch off their air conditioners in summers and heaters in winters.”