Congress, AAP claim big wins rural poll
The Congress and AAP are making claims and counter-claims over the number of candidates won in the panchayat polls by their support.
In the Jalandhar Cantt constituency, which has 50 villages, AAP claims its candidates remained victorious in 40 villages while the Congress claims win in 37 villages. Both AAP Cantt halka in-charge Rajwinder Kaur Thiara and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh refuted claims of the other having won majority seats.
Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi in turn claimed the same, stating that the Congress had won 70 to 80 per cent villages in panchayat polls in Jalandhar district.
Pargat Singh said, “Out of 50, we have won 37 seats in Jalandhar Cantt. The Congress had claimed victories in many villages. At Jandiala village, Congress candidate Kamaljit Singh, who is the nephew of Congress former zila parishad member Baba Johal has won. Apart from this, many Congress candidates have also won in villages.”
Thiara said, “We have won 40 out of 50 villages in Jalandhar Cantt. We lost 10 out of which two were won by unfair means. We have also filed petitions against results in Jandiala and Chittiani villages.”
Thiara alleged that the counting officer in one of the villages was the relative of the candidate and a complaint had been made.
Thiara said the AAP was the biggest winner in Cantt.
Reacting to AAP claims, Pargat Singh said, “Everyone likes to make tall claims but we have carried out a detailed assessment. They may say whatever they want.”
Channi said, “The Congress has won 37 villages in the constituency. Its candidates have won in over 74 per cent villages. We are still carrying out an assessment.” Reacting to AAP claims that 40 of the villages in Jalandhar Cantt have been won by the party, Channi said, “They may keep on saying whatever they want.”
Gurinder Pal Singh Shergill, general secretary, Jalandhar, of the AAP became sarpanch of Jamsher Khas in Jalandhar, defeating the opponent by 274 votes. Shergill is the youngest sarpanch of his village.
