380 candidates in fray for MC poll

As many as 380 candidates are in the fray for the Municipal Corporation elections after 63 candidates withdrew their nomination papers today.

A total of 448 candidates filed their papers from 85 wards for the Jalandhar MC elections on the last day of nominations. After scrutiny, five papers were rejected yesterday, following which 443 candidates were left in the fray. As many as 63 candidates withdrew their nominations today, leaving 380 in the fray whose fate will be decided on December 21.

Most of the candidates who withdrew their papers were either covering candidates or Independent candidates.

Withdrawal of papers by Congress candidate from Ward No. 33 Manmeet Kaur came as a big surprise. District Congress Committee chief Rajinder Beri alleged that her family members, who run sports business, were pressurised by the Aam Aadmi Party through the administration to withdraw her candidature.

AAP had earlier roped in Aruna Arora, a three-time councillor and a popular leader, from the same ward that covers the posh Model Town area. With the withdrawal of papers by the Congress candidate, chances for Arora to win the contest hands-down have amplified.

Manpreet Mangu, son of ex-councillor and former District Congress Committee chief Baldev S Dev, also withdrew his papers as Independent candidate from Ward No. 60. Soon after, he joined the party in the presence of AAP state president Aman Arora.

“I and my son have announced support for the AAP candidate from our ward. I was upset at the Congress ditching us by preferring Lakhbir Bajwa over my son. I now feel that we are set to avenge the humiliation that the Congress gave to us,” said Dev.

Shiv Nath Singh (Shibu Lahoria), who filed his papers as AAP rebel from Ward No. 48, has not withdrawn his papers. He said he had to resist huge pressure from the party leaders who were after him to take back his papers. He said he went to the RO’s office and got the symbol ‘pen’ so as to be able to contest.

“I have already started campaign in my area,” he said. AAP’s first list had Shiv Nath SIngh’s name, but was replaced subsequently by that of ex-Congress councillor Harjinder S Ladda.

Another prominent AAP rebel, Tarsem Lakhotra continues to remain in fray from Ward No. 46. “All my supporters were at my place last evening to prod me to continue to remain in the contest. So, I went to the RO’s office and took the symbol ‘flute’ to be able to contest,” he said.

278 to contest from Phagwara MC, 4 Nagar Panchayats

Phagwara: After the withdrawal of nominations for the Phagwara Municipal Corporation and Nagar Panchayats of Begowal, Nadala, Bholath and Dhilwan, 278 candidates remain in fray. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer Amit Kumar Panchal said as many as 219 nominations were filed for 50 wards of the Phagwara Municipal Corporation. After withdrawal, 173 candidates remained in fray. Out of 34 nominations filed for the Dhilwan Nagar Panchayat, 22 candidates remained in fray after the withdrawal of nominations. As many as 34 candidates will fight elections from the Begowal Nagar Panchayat, while 29 will contest elections from the Nadala Nagar panchayat. As many as 20 candidates are in fray from the Bholath Nagar Panchayat.