CM, Sukhbir missing at polling booth

CM, Sukhbir missing at polling booth
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Badal (Muktsar), May 26

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the trio of the ruling family in the state, did not cast their votes in the Gram Panchayat polls today. The three did not cast their votes even in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti polls held on May 12.
Despite the absence of the top personalities, the village witnessed a large turnout as 2,628 votes were cast out of a total of 2,920. However, Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of the CM, marked her presence at the polling station. After casting her vote, when questioned about the absence of the trio, she said in a lighter mood, “All those standing here represent the Badals. So, even in their absence, their presence can be felt.”
To end all speculations arising out of their absence, Tejinder Singh Midhu Khera, one of the closest allies of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal said, “They did not turn up to cast their votes as their presence could have given a handle to their opponents who are already losing here. They would then have said that the visit of the Badals influenced the voters.”
While leaving, Surinder Kaur Badal encouraged SAD activists and praised the passion of the voters. She also said the SAD supported candidates would make a clean sweep of the polls.
The seat of sarpanch in Badal was reserved for an SC candidate. In the nine-member GP, seven had already been declared elected as reportedly the Congress-backed candidates could not even file their nominations on time. The election was for just two members belonging to the SC category and only four persons were contesting it.