NRIs cold to Punjab polls
Thursday, July 07, 2011http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-06/india/29742826_1_nris-parties-attestation
This will come as a jolt to parties in Punjab poll fray. Five months after the state government notified the amendment allowing NRIs to vote, a minuscule 35 have registered themselves as voters with the Election Commission so far.
Every major party is planning a visit abroad to woo eligible NRIs to come back home during elections and vote for them, besides donating the much-needed poll funds. Congress chief Amarinder Singh had visited a few south Asian countries at the beginning of this year, while PPP leader Manpreet Singh is headed for North America later this month to appeal to the electorate there. SAD's plans of sending a delegation to the US, UK and Canada in June this year had to be shelved due to the demise of CM`s wife Surinder Badal. The party leaders are now planning a trip to these countries sometime in August, though the dates are yet to be finalised.
