Unlike the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when non resident Indians (NRIs) descended on Punjab in droves, to lend support to the poll campaigns of various parties, especially Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and dominated social media platforms, this time they are not so visible on the election circuit in many ' diaspora villages'.

There is no buzz about NRI-run campaigns even in villages having a sizeable population of NRIs. Even those on annual visits to Punjab are not taking much interest in the elections or even asking the villagers to vote for a particular party.

“There is definitely little interest for us in the elections. We had a lot of hope from AAP and had supported it whole-heartedly, but the party broke into pieces. Before that we had pinned our hopes on the People's Party of Punjab (PPP) -- formed by now Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal after leaving SAD – but these too were dashed. We are happy and prosperous abroad, but our hearts beat for our native place and we want it to be prosperous,” said 71-year-old Mohinder Singh Dhaliwal of Brampton , who originally belongs to Kalsiyan village in Raikot area. He comes to his native place for a few months every year.

His younger brother Rajinder Singh Dhaliwal, 65, is more vocal about his disappointment with the parties that promised change. “We are heartbroken. We supported them so much, but they split into many groups. We don’t like the corrupt system in our native state... We wanted to bring in an honest government which supports people, builds health and education infrastructure and addresses the drug issue. We expected AAP to bring in such change, but they too failed,” said Rajinder. “We still hope things will change in Punjab.”

Mohinder Singh, an NRI who originally belongs to Kamalpura village in Jagraon , said they frequently visit Punjab, but they find all traditional parties the same. “We are worried about the state of affairs as we love our country,” he said.

Internationally-acclaimed agricultural economist Dr Sardara Singh Johal, who is quite vocal about issues concerning the state, agreed that there was disinterest among the diaspora in the polls. He pointed out that NRIs were looking for a change, but both AAP and PPP did not live up to their expectations and frittered away their advantage due to self-interest.

“People are fed up with the traditional parties, but they don’t have options. It will take time for a third front to emerge. Whatever they (NRIs) want, so do Punjabis, be it better administration, employment, poverty eradication and checking the drug menace. After all, they had gone from Punjab and they look back and want a prosperous state,” he added.

