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Moga bypoll on February 23
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11
The Moga bypoll, which was necessitated after Congress legislator Joginderpal Jain resigned from the constituency and joined SAD, will be held on February 23. As per the Election Commission schedule announced today, the notification for the polls would be issued on January 30 and the last date for filing nominations would be February 6. The last date for withdrawal has been fixed as February 9, following which polling would be held on February 23. The counting of votes would be held on February 28.

Tough contest ahead The Moga bypoll was necessitated after Congress legislator Joginderpal Jain resigned from the constituency and joined SAD The relatively early declaration of the bypoll will give Jain very little time to turn around the loyalties of his former party workers and supporters

The announcement caught both principal political parties by surprise. Though elections are held within six months in case a seat falls vacant, the parties did not think the bypoll would be held so soon.

The relatively early declaration of the bypoll will give Joginderpal Jain, whose candidature has already been announced by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, very little time to turn around the loyalties of his former Congress workers and supporters.

He will also have to counter the latent hostilities of both former agriculture minister Jathedar Tota Singh, who wanted to establish his son Makhan Brar in the seat, and former DGP PS Gill, who fought the last election as the SAD candidate from Moga.

The Congress got off to a good start by starting political activity in Moga with the Pardesh Congress president even holding a rally there. However, it will be at a disadvantage if it does not take a quick decision on the party candidate for the poll.

Jain is likely to start campaigning immediately. In case of the Congress, there are three prominent candidates, including senior leader Vijay Sathi, former legislator Darshan Brar, who wants to shift to this constituency from Baghapurana from where he lost the last elections, and Mahila Congress president Malti Thapar.