Pundri needs industries to raise jobs, boost economy

No political party has won the Pundri Assembly constituency since 1996. In 1991, Ishwar Singh form the Congress had emerged victorious here and after that Independent candidates have been legislators here.

In 2014, the BJP candidate stood at the second place despite the Modi wave.

The constituency was won by Independent candidate Dinesh Kaushik, but soon thereafter he extended support to the BJP, and recently joined the party as well.

Independents have won from the seat six times since 1967. The Congress has won four times.

With the sitting MLA coming into the BJP fold, the saffron party is aiming to open its account in the Assembly constituency. Besides this, the margin (over 54,000 votes) of BJP candidate’s win in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election is also giving a boost to the party.

A political observer said: “It will depend on the candidate’s personal reputation. No political party has managed to win the Pundri constituency since 1996.The sitting MLA has recently joined the BJP and the saffron party is eyeing its first win in the constituency. The MLA is not easily accessible but still the party has an advantage against other political parties in the constituency.”

The demand for subdivisional status, lack of industries, broken roads, unemployment and poor law and order are the issues dogging the constituency.

Kulwinder Singh, a local farmer, said the government should set up industry to boost employment and economy. The depleting water table was a matter of concern, and the government must come up with projects to save the ground water.

“The unavailability of public transport, especially after 6 pm, is a big problem here. The roads are in a poor condition. The work on the Kaithal-Karnal road is going on at an extremely slow pace. In the absence of job opportunities, the youth are forced to move to other countries. Not much attention has been paid to improve the health care facilities as well,” a Pundri resident said.

Total voters 1,80,412 

• 97,118 Men 
• 83,293 Women 
• 1 Transgender 

Sitting MLA: Dinesh Kaushik (BJP)

Likely contenders: Satbir Bhana, Sultan Singh Jadaula (Cong) Kanwar Pal, Ishwar Mehla (INLD), Dinesh Kaushik, Randhir Gollen (BJP)

Legislator speak

“Projects worth Rs 500 crore have come to the constituency. An international level hockey academy in Habri has been approved by the CM and the work has also started, stadiums are under construction in Pai village, 4 new power sub-stations have been established, and the road structure is being strengthened. The matter of subdivision is under consideration of the government."— Dinesh Kaushik

Opposition speak

"No significant development has taken place over the last five years. The MLA has failed to bring in any major project. Roads are in a bad shape, and many of the projects which he took credit for were sectioned during my tenure. The community healthcare centre lacks facilities; one has to go to Kaithal and other areas for treatment." —Sultan Singh Jadaula, Congress