A phone call, purportedly made by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has gone viral after being leaked on social media.
The person on the phone is identified by his name, Gurdeep Singh who addressed Chief Minister Badal as “uncle”.
The voice believed to be that of Mr Badal, the five-time CM of Punjab can be heard beseeching the man on the line to forget his mistakes and help in the Punjab election.
“Son, I have a request, you have to help me.. Forget any differences we may have. My honour is at stake and it’s your honour as well that’s at stake,” he said.
But the person’s response wasn’t very encouraging who complained about one of Mr Badal’s very trusted lieutenants.
"That is alright, but uncle, for the last five years and even before I have been telling you that Middukhera and other local leaders are troubling us,” he said in response to the request.
Mr Badal again urged the person to forget the past.
“Please forget what has happened. Let the bygones be bygones. I personally request you that you have to help me. It’s a matter of my caste, please don’t think now,” he told the person on the other side.
“Give me your word.. you call me uncle.. you have to honour your word..,” added the 79-year-old Chief Minister.
While the man was reluctant to commit to offer his assistance and asked for some time to think, Mr Badal was adamant on extracting his firm pledge.
Throughout the one minute and fifty-second conversation posted online, Mr Badal sounds worried about his electoral prospects.
He is facing Congress’ Captain Amarinder Singh and Aam Admi Party’s Jarnail Singh at his home turf, Lambi where his victory margin perilously dropped in the 2012 election.
The Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP have been in power in Punjab since 2007, and are facing a very strong anti-incumbency, couple with a popular tidal wave in favour of AAP in Malwa region of Punjab.
With most pre-poll surveys predicting an ominous rout of the ruling combine, the Akali Dal’s hopes are pinned at the division of votes between AAP and Congress.
