Early trends in Batman shows a possible victory for Ged Kearney and labor. The controversial Greens Candidate Alex Bhathal was hunching upon hipster votes to win Batman on issues irrelevant to the electorate. Adani mine and refugees were non relevant to the struggling working class areas of Batman but the Northcote area, which now houses the upper middleclass voters had plenty of time to munch on such issues.  Though it is too early to say who will win, the early trends show a labor victory. A swing of .4% towards ALP shows labor is more likely to retain the seat

About Alex Bhathal

Alex Bhathal is a qualified social worker with a Masters degree in Criminology. Her husband is a GP and have two sons Ravi and Paddy. Alex Bhathal’s father is a Punjabi Sikh. Her father’s family is from Punjab state of India, which gives her the Punjabi connection. Her grandfather Arjan Singh joined the British Army and after WW1 and was recruited to the Police in British Malaya.  Her father was a citizen of Malaysia and migrated to Australia in 1952 at the age of 17.

Her support for Punjab separatist movement Khalistan created ripples in the Indian Community here and she was forced to make a statement rejecting her connection with a cause that was behind the Kanishka Bombing of Indian Airlines Flight that killed 329 people. But it will be an interesting wait to see how Bhathal will return the favour to Pro Khalistani elements who stood behind her journey to achieve the political honey pot, if she wins.  Her rivals at the Greens accuse her of systematic intimidation,  and branch-stacking.