Voters ‘board’? Mind games on: Character takes centre stage in Ludhiana West race

Ludhiana: Can an election be so devoid of politico-economic issues that a candidate's demeanor and public conduct become the dominant electoral issue? That's the striking message emerging from Ludhiana (West), an assembly constituency braced for a fierce contest on June 19.If the large-sized posters dotting every major roundabout and road and handouts reaching voters' doorsteps are to be believed, then apart from the routine promises of speedy delivery of development and official works, other major campaign themes are "arrogance", "respect" and "quarrelsome" nature of a candidate, who, if elected, "would keep fighting with the govt." AAP slogans target Ashu's demeanorThe apparent target of this campaign is Congress nominee Bharat Bhushan Ashu and propaganda tools that are carrying this message hammer and tongs belong to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who, with numerous such billboards, has successfully dominated the propaganda landscape of the segment."Na gussa na hankaar, kam hon ge lagataar (There will no anger and arrogance. There will continuous focus on works)" is one of the most visible slogans crafted by AAP to target Ashu and printed on almost every alternative billboard erected by AAP alongside major roads, completing its rhyme with "Aap da MLA, Aap Di sarkar (It will be AAP's MLA in AAP's government.)As if "respect" is an election issue for voters, another slogan having reference to it as "Hon ge kamm, milega satikaar, AAP da MLA AAP di sarkar (Work will be done, respect will be bestowed; it will be AAP's MLA in AAP's government)"AAP's attack on "arrogance" has attained another level in a handout circulated in some pockets of the constituency while pointing out three reasons to vote for Arora. Apart from his "affable personality" and "his ability to get work done from his own govt if he becomes MLA", the third reason was "arrogance and insulting behavior of an opponent.""Everyone knows how arrogant he was. He is folding hands because elections are around the corner. Once he wins, he will not even recognise you. Like what he did in past, he would insult others, he would pick quarrels…would irk masses and most importantly, he would keep quarreling with government for next two years. No cleanliness, drains blocked, garbage everywhere…there will be no development", reads a portion of a handout published in Punjabi and distributed on Thursday morning.On the other hand, in a press conference he addressed on Thursday along with senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, Ashu acknowledged he was being personally targeted through hoardings. When asked about allegations against AAP candidate, he responded, "I would not resort to such practices. That's not the kind of politics I do."Subtle replies on Cong billboardsIt's not that only Arora's hoardings are carrying such slogans. Slogans on Ashu's hoarding also suggest that they are written with tongue-in-cheek. The most prominent of them is "Na jhooth na laare, kam karda bahut saare (Neither lies nor false promises. He is the one who get lot of works done)." Although slogan is targeting Ashu's opponents, it still leaves the onlookers guessing as to whom Ashu is targeting with these words.BoxesCong's Punjabi versus ‘outsider'As Congress is pulling all stops to turn this elections into Punjabis versus Arvind Kejriwal contest, a very large sized hoarding installed at the main election office of Bharat Bhushan Ashu aptly delivers this message with the slogan, "Punjab de faisle, Punjabi lain ge ( Punjabis will take decisions about Punjab)."SAD's ‘tuhada apna'Contrast to its traditional of contesting election on the religious-political-development plank, Shiromani Akali Dal's posters appearing somber and this time. Posters of advocate Parupkaar Singh Ghuman carry just one message: Tuhade vichon, tuhada apna (The one from amongst you, The one who is yours)"BJP's reserved approachCampaign posters and hoardings put up by BJP are also somber and avoid any negative sloganeering. Apart from routine promises of development and efficient work delivery, the posters also carry pictures of several national and state BJP leaders apart from the candidate Jiwan Gupta.