Village elders at an election meeting in Anandpur Sahib. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Nangal/Anandpur Sahib, January 28
Election time has come as a blessing for village elders as they are getting attention from leaders of various parties who are trying to ensure their presence at electoral meetings to give credence to their poll campaign.

For the village elders, who otherwise feel ignored, attending election meetings and rallies in these two constituencies of Ropar district is more of an outing.

From the candidates’ point of view, besides adding to the numbers at public meetings, getting their precious votes is equally important. Moreover, their availability is far easier than others as they are generally free and readily agree to come for such meetings, which have become a daily affair.

These elders are ferried from their village and provided refreshments, which acts as an incentive for a majority of them.

“When the Sarpanch asked me to come here for an election meeting, I was more than happy as it is a kind of an outing for me, besides giving me a chance to listen to the promises these leaders make,” says Rattan Singh (70) of Pahllan Majra in Nangal.

All major parties like the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance are working overtime to win over these elders, as having their support sends across a positive signal. The impression created by ensuring the presence of these senior citizens at election meetings is that the entire family is with the candidate concerned since the head of the family is there.

“Though I do not have much interest in politics, attending elections meetings is a nice way of passing my time. All people my age are happy discussing old days of politics and how it has changed now,” says Charan Singh (60) of Maujewal in Nangal with elders Dharminder Singh of Mangewal village and Gurmail Singh of Mahroli by his side.

“The decision regarding attending rallies is taken by the Sarpanch of the village; we just follow it,”says Satwant Singh (80) of Anandpur Sahib.

Chandigarh, January 25
Chandigarh's comedian Jaspal Bhatti, (in)famous for lampooning politicians, is at it again. With elections to the Punjab Assembly round the corner, the satirist today found yet another way to mock at the “corrupt” political class by floating the “Land Grabbers and Dealers Party”.

In fact, launching the party, which has the aim of wooing the “hearts of millions of unemployed, bankrupt, downtrodden and frustrated voters of Punjab”, at Sector 17 Plaza here today, Bhatti came out with some of the weirdest promises which perhaps no politician could match.

“Corruption at lower levels will be rooted out. Corruption will be allowed only at the bureaucratic and ministerial levels”, Bhatti said, adding that corruption would be allowed only from 9 am to 5 pm. Party tickets will be sold through auction only, he quipped.

Bhatti and his “gang” took potshots at Capt Amarinder Singh and his bete noire Parkash Singh Badal through a parody song: “chak de phatte” adapted from comedy movie “Khosla ka Ghosla” as a motley Thursday crowd watched in amusement.

If voted to power, the party would sell all fertile land of Punjab to big industrial houses through land mafia, Bhatti said, promising special training to the youth to make them property dealers. Farmers would be made to get rid of their lands and taught to do farming in pots and "gamlas"!

And he lost no time in welcoming all disgruntled politicians from all parties, having the experience of selling the interests of their constituencies, to his party fold. ”All bureaucrats and police officers, who have acquired over five acres through fair or unfair means are specially welcome to the party”, he added.

• Corruption to be institutionalised at the bureaucratic and ministerial levels
• Party ticket to be sold through auction
• Government schools to be converted into shopping malls