THE FIGHT FOR POLITICAL CAPITAL

Leading the campaign as non-playing captains or taking the electoral field themselves, a whole range of political players exemplify the churn that Punjab's politics is going through

- ANILESH S. MAHAJAN

THE PARTY'S FACE
BHAGWANT MANN Chief Minister

USP: He is the flag-bearer of Punjab AAP, which is seeking votes in his name, and not of the candidates or party supremo Arvind Kejriwal

But: His two-year-old government is facing anti-incumbency

Going along National Highways 44 and 3, cutting through Punjab after crossing the Shambhu barrier, giant hoardings promoting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates for the Lok Sabha election dot the entire 220-km journey to the border city of Amritsar. A stern-visaged Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab chief minister, stares down these posters, the look only accentuated by the neatly tied yellow turban and perfectly dyed and trimmed beard. His is the most imposing presence on the poster; the images of other candidates accompanying him smaller in size, the emblazoned message in Gurmukhi leaving no one in any doubt Sansad Vich vi Bhagwant Mann' (Bhagwant Mann in Parliament too). There's a 'photoshopped' image of national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, too, showing him behind bars-an attempt perhaps to corner the sympathy vote-but Mann clearly remains the centrepiece. It is a subtle departure, as it is usually Kejriwal who is the main draw wherever the AAP attempts to expand its reach.