1,709 candidates in fray for posts of sarpanch, 7,842 for panch in Amritsar district

After rejections and withdrawal of nominations, 1,709 candidates are in fray for the posts of sarpanch and 7,842 for panch. The panchayat polls are scheduled on October 15. There are 858 gram panchayats in 10 blocks, including Ajnala, Ramdas, Chogawan, Harsha Chinna, Attari, Verka, Rayya, Tarsikka and Jandiala Guru, of the district.

Poll meetings are being held in every ward. Residents of the village are well aware about candidates and their manifestoes so there is nothing much to speak about. We meet people and ask them to elect someone, who can fight for the development of village. Sukhwinder Singh, Jethuwal village resident

As many 12,953 candidates filed nominations out of which 6,820 withdrew their papers. Two-hundred and forty seven nominations for sarpanch and 1,387 for panch were rejected. After rejection of nominations, several sarpanches and panches were elected unopposed. In all, 226 sarpanches and 2,108 panches were elected unopposed. There are some villages where sarpanches and panches were elected unanimously. There are 632 gram panchayats in the district where elections would be held on October 15. After the allotment of election symbols, the poll campaign picked up pace up in villages.

Harpreet Singh of Kathunangal village said, “We will approach voters and convince them to vote in favour of our candidates. Door-to- door campaigning has started. We have only five days left for canvasing.”

“Poll meetings are being held in every ward. Residents of village are well aware about candidates and their manifestoes so there is nothing much to speak about. We meet people and ask them to elect someone, who can fight for the development of village,” said Sukhwinder Singh, Jethuwal village.