BATHINDA: For 50 years, fivetime CM Parkash Singh Badal has been a prominent face of politics in Punjab, immersing himself in campaigning before every election, but not this year as age seems to have finally caught up with the leader who turned 91 on December 8 last year.In the past, when asked about his energy, Badal described the period before elections as “festival season” for himself, saying he enjoyed campaigning the most. With age taking its toll, this may not be the same again this time. Even as Badal’s son, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, and daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur Badal have started to campaign across the state and neighbouring Haryana, the party patriarch addressed his last rally on October 7, 2018, in Patiala An aide of Badal claimed that he would start campaigning at an appropriate time. In all, Badal has won 10 assembly elections. Leaders even from even rival parties credit Badal for aggressive campaigning and taking extra care to reach rallies and meetings on time.Another aide of Badal said age was not on the side of the politician and he had a backache. “Doctors have advised him to avoid travelling long distances. He may restrict campaigning and may campaign only when time is ripe,” said the aide.For now, the former CM has been spending time at his village, Badal, and meeting people, but he avoids going out. It is being said he has avoided going out as SAD has faced a lot of heat due to acts of sacrilege in teh state when he was the CM. SAD vicepresident Tejinder Singh Middukhera said Badal was “ready to roar” in the elections. “He is resting now, but he still has a lot of energy and will jump into campaigning when time is right. He will address more rallies than present chief minister Amarinder Singh and will rejuvenate party cadres with his evergreen energy,” said Middhukhera. “He is our trump card, like Sukhbir Badal,” he added.In the run-up to the 2017 assembly elections, Badal had campaigned for months at an end. Much before the poll code came into force a month ahead of the February 4, 2017, election, Badal was meeting people through sangat darshans. Sukhbir has attempted to widen the SAD’s base in Haryana and addressed rallies in Pipli on August 20, 2018; Ratia on December 2, 2018; Ambala on February 9, and Pehowa on March 10, 2019. However, Badal was missing at all these rallies. A resident of Badal village, who did not wish to be named, said there was not much activity in and around the family house too.

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