People's Democracy

            A New Enthusiasm

April 20. Time 1.00 p m The rising mercury did not deter the thousands to surge to the meeting grounds in Hoshiarpur to cheer the CPI(M) candidate on the occasion of his filing nomination. Despite the soaring temperature the mobilisation far exceeded the expectations of the organisers. With more than seven thousand people turning up the mood had changed from one of cautious optimism to unrestrained enthusiasm. This was as much apparent in the tone and tenor of the speakers.

Present on the occasion were CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Punjab chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh, PCC president Hanspal, CPI(M) state secretary Balwant Singh and a host of other state and district level leaders of the CPI(M) and the Congress.

People came in all conceivable modes of transport. Buses, tractor trolleys, cars, auto-rickshaws, scooters and motor cycles. Women formed a substantial part of the gathering. They displayed a new enthusiasm and gusto.

At the public meeting, speaker after speaker exhorted the gathering to work for electing the CPI(M) candidate and for the defeat of the SAD-BJP combination. Among those who addressed the rally were Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Captain Amrinder Singh, Hanspal and Balwant Singh.

After the meeting the candidate accompanied by the main leaders got onto an an open gypsy and moved in a convoy to the Collector’s office to file his nomination. Besides the candidate Darshan Singh Mattu others in the cramped vehicle were Surjeet, Captain Amrinder Singh, Hanspal, Balwant Singh and the sitting Congress MLAs from the assembly segments of Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency. They were followed by a big procession of vehicles and people on foot. After moving through the main thoroughfares of the city the procession reached the DC’s office where Mattu filed his nomination papers.