Election campaign in Punjab

Описание: (7 Feb 2007)
5 February 2007
1. Congress party supporters waving flags at campaign rally
2. Sikh supporter in the crowd
3. Security officials at rally
4. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being greeted by Congress politicians
5. Congress party supporters waving flags at campaign rally
6. Singh waving to crowd
7. Wide back view of crowd of rally
6 February 2007
8. Wide of Punjab Chief Minister and Congress party leader Amarinder Singh on stage addressing a campaign rally
9. Armed security official
10. Close-up of banner with pictures of Congress party leaders including Singh (centre) and Sonia Gandhi (left)
11. Congress supporters cheering
12. SOUNDBITE: (Punjabi) Amarinder Singh, Punjab state Chief Minister:
"This is our Punjab. The future of our children lies in this state and we want a government which will secure the future of our children. We need a government which can give that security."
13. Various of traditional Punjabi 'bhangra' dancers performing on stage at an election rally organised by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) AUDIO: Music
14. People in crowd watching dancers
15. Dancers performing on stage
16. BJP candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu at election rally
17. Wide of Sidhu at rally with crowd in foreground
18. SOUNDBITE: (Punjabi) Navjot Singh Sidhu, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and former cricketer:
"They (the Congress party) have sucked the blood of the poor people and made the rich people even richer. Rich people get free electricity in Punjab and they don't have to pay excise duty (tax) or stamp duty. What have they done for the poor?"
19. Supporters clapping
20. Sidhu leaving
21. Various of street scene with flags and banners on buildings
22. Various of auto rickshaws with megaphones attached being used for election campaigning
STORYLINE:
India's northern Punjab state will go to the polls on February 13 and, as the canvassing gathers momentum, all political parties have been getting their star campaigners out to woo voters.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a political rally that a win for the Congress party would mean greater development for Punjab.
A Congress government headed by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is currently in power in the affluent northern state.
The main contender to the Congress party is the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance.
One of their major crowd pullers at campaign rallies has been the former cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had to resign his seat as a politician in the Indian parliament after a conviction in a road rage killing case 18 years ago.
Traditionally election campaigning in India means huge political rallies with music and dancing and these elections are no different.
AP Television footage shows colourful Bhangra dancers at BJP rally performing for the crowds before the candidate appeals for their vote.
In the street flags and banners showing allegiance to a political party adorn buildings and auto rickshaws with megaphones attached are used for electioneering.
More than one-thousand contestants are competing for 117 seats in the Punjab election.
One of the major issues in the election is the power supply, with both parties promising better power generation facilities for farmers.
The pre-independence Punjab province was split into two at the time of partition between India and Pakistan in 1947.
As well as Punjab, two other Congress-ruled states - Uttarakhand and Manipur - will also go to the polls between February 8 and 23.

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