Charge of the NRI brigade in Punjab

They have played the proverbial Good Samaritans for long—lavishing money on education and medical care. Now, they are seeking a slice of the power-pie in a robust Indian economy.

Khangura, whose family set up Ludhiana’s first five-star hotel in the mid-’90s, candidly says he is here not only because he has political ambitions but also because he is happy with the way “the Indian economy has begun to race”.

The booming economy may well explain the overwhelming interest NRIs are taking in these elections. Be it an election rally or door-to-door canvassing in Doaba, there is no missing the NRIs.

Jagmohan Singh Sahota, convener of the Indian Overseas Congress , who claims he is here with an army of 3,000 NRIs to ensure the victory of Amarinder Singh, says the interest is peaking. “All the A-I flights coming from Toronto to Amritsar are packed with people coming here to canvass,” says Sahota, who settled in Toronto 24 years ago.

And money is not an issue. Traditionally, it’s a candidate rather than a party who is the subject of NRI munificence. “Generally, candidates don’t ask us, but we like to help out,” says Sahota, who pegs the expense of every NRI coming here for the polls at $20,000 .

Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) candidate from Banga Mohan Lal, who spent four years in Italy, is only too happy to tell you that his NRI friends are funding his campaign. That may explain his 115-vehicle cavalcade that invited the Election Commission’s wrath.

For many like Khangura, whose family is into IT and real estate business in England, it is also time to encash past philantrophy. “We pumped in Rs 60 lakh to revive the Narangwal college, we’ve also installed computers in all village school in the last five years,” says Khangura, who promises a clean sweep.

He is also hopeful of getting the better of murky Indian politics. “I know a legislator here is both a plaintiff and an arbitrator but I can handle it”, he shrugs, telling you about the success of young politicians in Eastern Europe. Above all, he takes hope from a fast-changing India.

Tarsem Tambar, a British citizen for 40 years, is here to canvass for Congress candidate from Nawanshehar Parkash Saini. He’s got just one wish: a single-window system for setting up business in the state.

And Surjit Singh Rakhra, Akali candidate from Samana and president of the Akali Dal NRI wing, is already making this promise. Rakhra, who draws immense support from his brother, NRI tycoon Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, says he will give a big push to BPOs with single-window clearance. “We will give them land, phone lines, everything… It’s a win-win situation for all of us.” He should know, for the BPO set up by his brother at Patiala with over 350 employees is quite a success.

In a state where populism is the leitmotif of poll campaigns, these voices insert a note of reality. And hope.