The people of Punjab have handed Captain Amarinder Singh the best birthday gift he could have asked for. With a clear mandate for the Congress to rule in Punjab, the verdict is even more special for the Maharaja of Patiala who had earlier admitted that this would be the last election that he would be contesting.


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What comes with the clear win is the message that the Punjabis are wanting a change after two tenures of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Many have dubbed the last decade as being disastrous for Punjab as the state has suffered from poor governance and increasing problem of drugs and alcohol.


Drugs, especially heroin, have become entrenched in the state like in no other region with nearly 16% of the population suffering from some level of addiction.


Plus, the introduction of a version of “bahubali” politics in the border state has left electorate reeling with rage. It is no secret that Akalis have indulged in gunda raj and the episode of liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda in Fazilka jail have turned people decidedly against them.


In this election, it was no longer a question of whether the Badals’ led SAD-BJP combine would lose, it was more about whether Congress would win a simple majority or would people want to try out the Aam Admi Party.


Clearly, Punjab has chosen the tried and tested Congress rather than experimenting with AAP which had fielded comedian Bhagwant Mann as their leading face. Exit polls had predicted a closer race with neck and neck fight between the Congress and Arvind Kejriwal’s party.


Many are almost relieved at the outcome, as most candidates of AAP party have no experience. Moreover, both Congress and Akali Dal don’t quite know how to handle AAP. That said, AAP has made a good start in Punjab elections and would be eyeing states like Himachal and Gujarat.


Now, the bigger question that has propped up is whether cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu would be made the Deputy CM, a prospect that Amarinder Singh will loathe.


The Captain told a press conference post victory that the cabinet would be decided in consultation with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as Sonia was currently abroad.


On the point of Rahul Gandhi’s role in Punjab, one can safely say that the mandate is more in favour of Amarinder than an endorsement of Rahul. It was very visible that Rahul had chosen to concentrate all his energy in Uttar Pradesh and made only guest appearances in Punjab. Whereas, Punjab watchers say that Amarinder Singh left no stone unturned during electioneering this time and 2017 was his most energetic campaign.


Nevertheless, where Rahul Gandhi needs to be given due credit is that he kept internal dissenters at bay and let Amarinder canvass in peace. Even though the high command did not announce their CM candidate till about two weeks before the polls.


As much as the Captain would want to keep Navjot Singh at bay, his last minute entry into Congress did invigorate the support at the hustings.


About the road ahead, Punjab is facing one of its worst crisis ever. There was large scale corruption and nepotism in Badal regime. Added to it, the increased security challenge and threat from infiltration from across border, power and water shortage, increased cases of farmers’ suicide besides the already mentioned problems of drugs and alcohol means that Punjab is looking for a reboot.


This would be Amarinder’s last term and possibly the toughest considering the magnitude of the problems. But if he manages to deliver and reverse at least some of the decay that Punjab has faced, it would be the sweetest swan song for him personally.