Amritsar all set to witness three-cornered fight in municipal corporation elections

As the campaigning for the municipal corporation (MC) elections is on its peak, the city is all set to witness a three-corner fight. The BJP has strong cadre in urban constituencies, while the Congress has prominent faces and leaders and AAP’s government is in power in the state.

Except Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), all major parties have their own strengths and claim that their candidates would win in the civic body polls. However, the SAD once had a stronghold in the South Assembly constituency in past, but due to ongoing political crisis the party’s vote share declined in the previous elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had secured top spot in Amritsar North, Central and East Assembly constituencies in the recent elections. The party stood second in the West consistency. BJP district president Harivnder Singh Sandhu claimed that his party had largest cadre in the city.

“Activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are the backbone of the BJP and actively campaigning for the party,” he said. During past few years, the BJP tried to set aside its tag of trader’s party and extended its network among labourers and the working classes. The BJP adopted liberal policy while giving tickets to Sikh faces in the city.

Meanwhile, the Congress has several prominent faces which include four time councillors, former MLAs, ministers, former mayors and deputy mayors. While allotting tickets, the senior party leadership tried to satisfy all leaders. A number of tickets were allotted to family members of senior Congress leaders. The party also had a strong cadre base in the city. In the previous General House of the MC, the Congress had 65 councillors out of 85.

Although, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) failed to establish its strong ground network even after gaining huge majority in the state Assembly elections, it would benefit as its government was in power in the state.

A large section of voters cast vote in favour of those candidates, whose party has government in the state, so they can avail several benefits. Even the opponents of the AAP alleged that the party was using state machinery to win polls, but political experts claimed that it was trend that the party holding the state government’s reins always managed to win the MC elections.

Meanwhile, all candidates contesting the polls have pasted their posters, banners and hoardings on electricity polls, trees and walls all over the holy city. Candidates from all parties and even Independents are leaving no stone unturned during campaigning to influence residents to vote in their favour while distributing and pasting their posters. This development is violation of the model code of conduct that came into force after declaration for the civic body elections. So far, the administration and advertisement wing of the MC have failed to take appropriate action against violators of the code.

Residents are miffed over rampant defacement of public spaces in the holy city.

“It’s disheartening to see our city being defaced with posters and banners. The administration and the MC seemed to have turned a blind eye towards violations of the election code. The signage and boards meant for guiding visitors are covered with posters and banners of candidates in the poll fray,” said PC Sharma, an activist.

With all parties equally responsible for defacement, residents are calling for stricter enforcement of rules and regulations to maintain the city’s aesthetic appeal.

Ruling AAP’s East constituency MLA Jeevan Jyot Kaur asked her supporters to remove the Congress flags from the New Amritsar area just before the arrival of state party president Aman Arora to hold a press conference. The MLA told her supporters that she doesn’t want to see the Congress flags. Acting on MLA’s instructions some of her supporters removed the Congress flags.