MC elections: After SC order, poll activities gain pace in Ludhiana district

With the Supreme Court directing the state to hold MC elections, there has been a rise in the political activity at the local level.

Aspiring candidates who wish to make it as a councillor can be seen making a beeline to the party offices and meeting senior party leaders to secure their name as a party candidate.

Sanjay Talwar, president, District Congress Committee, said the Congress was all ready for the elections.

“The Congress party was in majority in the last House and those who were in the House in the last term will be given preference. Sixty per cent of the old timers, winning candidates from the last House will be given preference and we have already received nearly 200 applications to choose for the remaining 40 per cent and we will be receiving applications till November 20. If the number of applications received in any ward are more, then public opinion about the candidate will be sought,” he said.

Further, Talwar said this must be the first government that was running away from holding elections and had even gone to court. Now, with the Supreme Court giving directions, they are left with no other option but to hold the elections.

“Had the MC elections been held soon after the Assembly elections, they would have had the edge as public had given them the majority in the Assembly elections. However, now after more than two years of the formation of the government, residents have come to know about the reality of the government and that factor is going to work against them. Residents will see the real face of the AAP and they have come to know that they are not going any good to them. The next Mayor will be of the Congress,” Talwar said.

Senior BJP leader Gurdev Sharma said the party is ready for the elections.

“Like Parliamentary elections, the BJP will also win here. Preference will be given to the old candidates and over 500 have already applied for the ticket and more applications will be accepted in the coming days. The applications will first be checked at the local-level and then they will be sent to the parliamentary committee,” he said.

Sharma said he failed to understand the ways of the AAP government as they said something and did something else. “I have never seen a government which avoids holding elections and this itself shows their lack of confidence and sheds light on their prospects in the elections,” he said.

Sharanpal Singh Makkar, district president, AAP, said names of the candidates would be finalised by the party high command and feedback would also be sought from the public in this regard.