As Haryana Assembly polls approach, leaders reach out to voters

Ravneet Singh

Panchkula, July 19

As the elections to the Haryana Assembly are approaching, leaders of political parties, especially those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, have started venturing out to meet people and resolve their local issues.

Gian Chand Gupta, two-time MLA from the constituency and Assembly speaker is organising ‘janata darbar’ (people’s court). The camps are being organised on the lines of ‘samadhan shivirs’ of the district administration. A grievance redressal camp was organised along with BJP district president Deepak Sharma, councillor Narendra Lubana, mandal president Siddharth Rana, former chairman of market committee Ashok Sharma and others on July 15. Similar camp was organised on Friday as well. Gupta is reportedly directing government officials to look into the complaints of the people and initiate appropriate action.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan who has already raised claims to party ticket from Panchkula, has been meeting cleanliness workers and residents of various colonies in the city. While issuing a statement recently, he said the houses of Ashiana Colony are in a very dilapidated condition and sought the state government to get them repaired. He promised if Congress comes to power in the state, residents of Ashiana colonies, Rajiv Colony, Indira Colony and others will be provided with plots measuring 50 square-yards. Rejecting rumours of him leaving the Congress party, the former Deputy CM added that he will contest on Congress ticket from Panchkula.

Congress state women wing chief Sudha Bhardwaj has also been holding meetings with local women party workers. In a similar meeting held on Friday, she raised concern over inflation and joblessness in BJP rule.

Congress leaders and former mayor Upinder Ahluwalia has also been active in the city. On Friday, along with party’s local leaders and workers, she reached the city Municipal Corporation office and apprised the MC Commissioner of various problems being faced by residents.

BJP leader and former Kalka MLA Latika Sharma has been active in party meetings and programs being held in both Panchkula and Kalka. She raised demands for Kalka’s development with the Chief Minister who was here for the inauguration of apple market on Wednesday.

Congress leader Mandeep Kaur Gill has started visiting localities and colonies in Kalka. She met residents of village Kanguwala on Thursday who apprised her of problems related to electricity supply, drinking water supply and sewerage connectivity in the area.

JJP leader and former executive officer of Panchkula Municipal Council OP Sihag has come in support of residents demanding roll-back of the state government’s decision to allow construction of stilt-plus-four houses in the city. Recently, he has been raising questions on allocation of properties to residents of slum areas.