Two MLAs, doctor lock horns in Chamkaur Sahib

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chamkaur Sahib, January 23

Two sitting MLAs — Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi and Justice Nirmal Singh (retd) — are contesting from Chamkaur Sahib constituency in Ropar district, besides AAP candidate and eye surgeon Dr Charanjit Singh.

While Channi (48) has served two terms in a row as the local MLA, the SAD has shifted Justice Nirmal Singh (69) from Bassi Pathana. Both are wary of AAP’s influence in the region. Party candidate Himmat Singh Shergill had secured a lead of 47,016 votes from the Chamkaur Sahib seat (which falls under Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency) in the 2014 elections.

As one enters the constituency, all villages and the towns of Chamkaur Sahib and Morinda are found dotted with contestants’ hoardings, a majority of which belong to the Congress.

The CLP Leader has roped in stage artistes who entertain the audience before his arrival at the venue of a public meeting. Clad in a white kurta-pyjama and wrapped up in a ‘loi’, he first folds his hands to greet the gathering of around 300 at Amrali village, including a large number of women sitting on cots. He knows the bitter truth — people of the area have suffered neglect on the development front despite electing him twice.

He tries to explain that being an opposition MLA, he was helpless and powerless. “Don’t fall prey to the tactics of rival parties as this time, the Congress will form the government. I will get a senior position after winning the election,” he assures his audience while seeking votes.

Unfazed by the lack of interest shown by the SAD-BJP government in development here, Justice Nirmal Singh has been using all means of canvassing, be it public meetings or door-to-door visits.

Before his visit to an area, SAD workers ensure that party flags and banners are put up properly at every place. In the Morinda main market during door-to-door campaigning, a party worker hands over a garland and ‘siropa’ to each of the shopkeepers. Soon, the ex-judge, accompanied by party workers, arrives at a shop, where the waiting owner garlands him and presents the ‘siropa’.

He claims that within one-and-a-half months of the announcement of his candidature, things have started changing for the better. While Rs 19 crore have been allocated for development works in this area, Morinda town has become a subdivision after his arrival, he tells the voters. After winning the election, he will ensure much more development, he promises.

The AAP candidate, Dr Charanjit (55), and his supporters arrive in two cars at Bhago Majra village, where about 50 residents are waiting for him. An autorickshaw fitted with a public address system, which was used during the previous public meeting at nearby Lohari village, comes in handy.

“The government failed to provide jobs even after promising to employ 10 lakh youths,” he says. AAP will end unemployment by giving jobs to 25 lakh youths, he tells the voters.