Chandigarh:
Having taken time off after the date of polling on January 30, Punjab politicians, some of whom had even taken a break abroad, are now back in the state and eagerly waiting for the results, to be declared on Tuesday, with bated breath.
For 84-year-old SAD president and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the past few days have been hectic as the veteran Akali leader has been meeting people in Lambi constituency, from where he is seeking re-election.
Today, the Badals - including the CM's son and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur - spent time together and an 'akhand paath' was held at Lambi. Yesterday, the CM had paid obeisance at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district.
The Badals had gone abroad taking a break after the polls for a few days besides spending time in Delhi, an aide said.
The SAD patriarch also met his supporters in Lambi and expressed confidence that SAD-BJP combine will return to power. "The mood is upbeat in the Badal camp. The Chief Minister has been telling people that SAD-BJP will return to power," the aide said, adding that the CM will be in his constituency on the day results are announced.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, who is also the party's chief ministerial candidate, is back from Uttar Pradesh where he had been campaigning for party candidates.
"He has been in Chandigarh for the past few days. A lot of people have been meeting him. He has been planning strategies as Congress is confident to wrest power from the Akalis," his close aide said.
Asked if he had visited any religious shrine during the past few days, the aide said, "As a matter of routine he has been to gurudwaras but not for anything special."
Chief Minister Badal's estranged nephew and head of People's Party of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal, was in Delhi today for a follow-up check for a tumour which had been detected in his throat earlier.
"During the past few days Mr Manpreet met his supporters and expressed his thanks to them. He toured villages of his Gidderbaha constituency. We are confident that PPP will play a key role in Punjab's politics and will win a good number of seats," his aide Arunjyot Sodhi said.