It couldn't have been bigger. The two main opponents for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat have much more at stake than just winning the election. Both are well educated and articulate, both in their early 40s, both first-timers in the electoral fray and both carrying the burden of the legacy of Punjab’s two top political dynasties.

The battle is at its peak now with 41-year-old Raninder Singh, son of former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, crossing swords with 42-year-old Harsimrat Kaur, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and daughter-in-law of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Without any doubt, this back of beyond area has never had it this good. Away from the National Highway and sharing its borders with Rajasthan and Haryana, the sprawling district had always been backward and neglected. Its fate began to change a couple of years ago when it became clear that the Parliamentary constituency would be demarcated and de-reserved and host the battle for supremacy of the two top political families of the state.

No wonder then that the run-up to the high-stake elections have seen promises of investments worth Rs 40,000 crore and total transformation of the backward area. The proposed investments include the Rs 19,000-crore Bathinda refinery. Although it had been in the pipeline for over a decade, the proposal was revived by the Badal Government. The refinery is likely to spawn a whole lot of ancillary units and create at least 10,000 additional jobs. The other investments announced include a Rs 10,000-crore thermal power station, Rs 6,000-crore City Centre, Rs 1,000-crore Central University, an international airport, a five-star hotel and an international-standard cricket stadium. The Akali Government has already invested much in creating infrastructure including a good road network.

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