Despite facing an uphill task in this predominately Akali stronghold district, the Congress appears to be making it a fight in the rural Punjab constituencies of Talwandi Sabo, Pucca Kalan, Nathana and Rampuraphul.

There is a straight fight between Congress candidate Jeet Mohinder Singh and Akali Candidate Amarjeet Singh in Talwandi Sabo, with the former being no pushover due to his proximity to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Though basically a traditional Akali strong hold, the seat was won by a Congress candidate Harminder Singh Jassi during the Akali boycott of polls in 1992.

Before that, the seat had always remained with the Akalis.

The 1997 polls showed Congress repeating the feat when Jassi won over Jeet Mohinder Singh of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Jassi's win and his subsequent induction in the cabinet during Harcharan Singh Brar's government gave the area political importance.

The two-time winner, however, lost narrowly to his arch rival Jeet Mohinder Singh who fought independently in 2002 after being denied a ticket by the Akali Dal.

SAD candidate Amarjeet Singh is a retired IAS candidate who is betting heavily on the goodwill of SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal.

The Congress candidate is banking on development of the area but the task is not easy as a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate is also in the fray.

Pucca Kalan, basically a pro-Sikh constituency, is also expected to witness a straight fight between Congress candidate Makhan Singh and Darshan Singh Kotfatta of the SAD.

Makhan Singh was a Communist candidate who had won the seat in 1997 on an Akali ticket.

Communist Party of India candidate Surjeet Singh and Kiranjeet Singh Gehri, state president of Dalit Sena and a Lok Janshakti Party candidate are also in the fray, which has got the Congress worried.

The Nathana constituency is also a pro-Jat Sikh and a stronghold of Akali's, where Akali candidate Gura Singh Tungwali and Congress candidate Ajaib Singh Bhatti are locked in a keen contest.

The most interesting and watched constituency by both the main parties is Rampura, where SAD has its firebrand leader Sikander Singh Malooka who was a minister during Badal's regime. The Congress has the Akali dissident and previous independent winner Gurpreet Singh Kangar.

This seat is considered to be sensitive and special arrangements are being made for peaceful elections.

This constituency includes Mehraj village, which is the ancestral home of Amarinder Singh.