Confectioner Charanjeet Singh of Patiala’s Old Subzi Mandi had supported the farmers’ struggle. However, now he is tired of the agitation that has dragged on for four years.

“Every hartal is the loss of a day’s wages for my employees and me. Business has been down since demonetisation. Modi can solve farmers’ problems, but he won’t. Today you may find support for the hartals in the villages but not here,” said Singh.

Singh blames all the key players — the Congress, BJP, AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal — for unfulfilled promises and corruption charges.

“I don’t think I want to brave the heat to vote on June 1. Doctor sahab (Congress’s Dharmavira Gandhi) may win only because he has a good image, but even he couldn’t do much for Patiala as an AAP MP in 2014.”

Across the market in Patiala’s old city, the common refrain is the deteriorating law and order situation, regular road and rail blockades by farmer unions, poor enforcement of traffic rules and a sense of diminishing influence among city dwellers.

Charanjeet Singh in his sweets and savouries shop in Patiala's Old Sabji Mandi. Picture by Pheroze L Vincent

Convoys of tractor trolleys remain parked on the blocked highway at Shambhu village on Patiala’s boundary with Haryana’s Ambala since the farmers’ march to Delhi was stalled 106 days ago. The farmers say they won’t budge, not even to vote, until their demands are resolved — the key one being a minimum support price (MSP) that is
50 per cent above the cost of cultivation.

Sukhdev Singh from Amritsar said: “The BJP has no chance in Punjab. I like what the Congress manifesto says about justice for farmers. But we can’t leave to vote as anything can happen here. The parties must get the message that farmers won’t budge on their demands. No party came to ask for our votes.”

In the nearby town of Ghanaur, elders discuss poll prospects at the ramshackle bus stand. “It’s the public who are suffering. The road to Ambala is now longer and the road is bad. Children have died in bike accidents. We will have to judge whose promises to believe in these polls,” said Rulda Singh, a retired soldier.

The elders at Ghanaur feel boycotting BJP campaign teams in several villages was
a bad idea.

“Only Modi can solve this crisis. So we must let them campaign as well,” Rulda Singh added.

Back in Old Patiala, bangle-seller Surinder Pal Singh, who supports the Akali Dal, misses his customers from villages. “Farmers also did not have good incomes as many were busy with protests. Fewer of them come to the city to buy things. The Centre should agree to their demands. Our business is also down because the villagers aren’t spending much and we keep shutting down for hartals. For the PM’s rally last week, roads to the market were blocked again,” he said.

Shops downed shutters in Barnala earlier this month after farmer groups came to blows with traders during their protest against an allegedly dubious travel agent. With police largely keeping off such protests in Punjab, traders feel that farmer groups are going too far.

“Why should they get loan waivers? Do we get anything?” asked Patiala cloth trader Bhushan Goyal who is supporting Patiala royal and BJP nominee Preneet Kaur.

“Modi should not give in to the farmers as all their subsidies come from our taxes. If we have a BJP MP, at least we will be able to get our voice to Delhi. If the BJP returns, it will end reservations and then at least our children can get government jobs based on merit. I don’t want my children to struggle in business like I am,” he added.

Goyal believes the Opposition’s claim about the BJP’s intent to end reservations, which the BJP has repeatedly denied.

Yadwinder Singh of Kheri Musalmana village drives a taxi in Patiala. His litany of woes against the BJP includes the police action on farmers and the Khalistani narrative against them. Yadwinder is supporting the Congress this time “to defend federalism”.

“Yes, there is a problem with giving people things for free — electricity (for small consumers), bus rides. Although these are given in the cities as well but you will find that in the villages even rich farmers don’t get electricity bills. If the government gives MSP, farmers won’t need these doles,” he told The Telegraph.