A victorious Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday came home to a grand welcome from his family members and constituents in Patiala, from where he has created military history by becoming the first Captain to defeat a General.Even as Captain Amarinder went on to score an astounding win from Patiala Urban with the highest ever margin recorded in the constituency, his SAD rival General JJ Singh failed even to save his security deposit, clearly underlining the huge popularity of the Punjab Congress president in his hometown.As he stepped into Patiala, Captain Amarinder, who is being credited with scripting the landslide Congress victory in Punjab, was greeted by a cacophony of drums beats and slogans by enthusiastic crowds that had lined up to welcome the hero of the state assembly polls, and the man to whom they looked up as their messiah to lead them out of the gloom and despair they had been living in for the past 10 years.Coupled with the sweeping victory of the Congress under his leadership across Punjab, Captain Amarinder’s record win in Patiala had enthused party workers and ordinary people to turn out in unprecedented numbers to catch a glimpse of the warrior. It was an emotional homecoming for Captain Amarinder, who said he was overwhelmed by the love and support of the Patialvis.
Flanked by his wife Preneet Kaur, daughter Jai Inder Kaur, brothers Raja Malwinder Singh and Raja Randhir Singh, Captain Amarinder visited the gurdwara and temple at Burj Baba Ala Singh at the historic Qila Mubarak, from where he had started his poll campaign earlier. After paying his respects at the Samadhi of Baba Ala Singh, he left for his Moti Mahal palace, which was thronged by huge crowds waiting to celebrate his 75th birthday and his landmark victory in the assembly polls.The palace had been decked up for the double celebration, which Captain Amarinder described as the most memorable event in his life. At 75, the scion of the Patiala royalty has become the longest living member of his family.Jubilant party workers and supporters could be seen celebrating with sweets and revelry all around the palace, which seemed to stand out as an illuminated landmark on Patiala’s cityscape. The whole atmosphere was one of an unending party, with smiling faces, blooming flowers and garlands greeting Captain Amarinder at every corner.Talking to mediapersons at the palace, Captain Amarinder promised to fast-track the development of Patiala, which had been given a stepmotherly treatment by the Badal-led SAD-BJP regime. He reiterated his commitment to making good every single pre-poll promise and assured the people of Patiala that despite the chief ministerial pressures of governing the state, he would take personal interest in ensuring that their problems are resolved at the earliest.Photo-Caption: Captain Amarinder Singh with family members pays his respects at Samadhi of Baba Ala Singh at Qila Mubarak in Patiala after landslide poll victory