The ruling Aam Aadmi Party got a good response from applicants as it sought applications from them for all 85 wards for the coming Municipal Corporation elections.

The party gave four hours from 2 pm to 6 pm to the applicants to reach the Circuit House with the copy of the form. AAP district president Steven Kler and Chairman, District Planning Committee, Amritpal Singh received 300 applications at the venue.

Most of the applicants, who turned up today, are councillors with other parties, including the Congress, BJP and the SAD. Four-time councillor Des Raj Jassal applied for AAP ticket from ward no. 84. Other Congress ex-councillors who applied today from AAP were ex-Deputy Mayor Harsimranjit S Banti, Nirmal S Nimma and Onkar Tikka. Ramandeep Kaur, daughter-in-law of four-time Congress councillor Bal Krishan Bali,  was also an applicant.

Former BJP leaders to apply for AAP ticket were ex-councillor Varesh Mintu and Pradeep Khullar. Former Akali leaders included Jaspal Kaur Bhatia, wife of former Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Bhatia, and Kuldeep Lubana also applied through AAP.

Some new faces could also be seen in AAP, including Deepak Sandhu, who came with a huge bunch of supporters from the Basti Bawa Khel area. Party volunteers, including Mukesh Sethi, Mamta Bhagat and Harleen Kaur, were some first-time applicants. Among the new faces to apply was Raju Madaan, a close relative of Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora. Several couples also applied for tickets. Among them were Anmol Grover and his wife Kanika Grover.

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Money taken, returned

While initially the candidates were asked to deposit Rs 1,000 as the application charges in a general category ward and Rs 500 in the SC category ward, they were later told that no charges would be levied. “We will return the money collected from the applicants as we have now received directions not to levy the charges”, said AAP district president Steven Kler.

Most from Jalandhar West

The Jalandhar West Assembly segment, which has 24 wards, sent the maximum number of applicants. Minister Mohinder Bhagat, who represents this segment, said all the councillor candidates had become active post the bypoll held in July this year. He said he was pleased to see the huge turnout. The Assembly segment that received the least response was Jalandhar North.

Mayoral candidate by high command

Harbhajan Singh ETO, minister and observer for the MC polls in Jalandhar, said 300 applications had been received today. “We will check these applications at our level and announce dates for ticket claims again this week.” He added that the working of each applicant, his image and popularity in his area would be the sole criteria for selection. On being asked if the party would announce a mayoral candidate too prior to elections, he said, "The decision will be taken by the party's high command".

Cong to charge fee for application

The Congress leadership also held a meeting at Congress Bhawan this afternoon which was presided over by Jalandhar MP Charanjit Channi. Those who attended the meeting with him were Jalandhar MLAs Pargat Singh, Bawa Henry and Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia, DCC chief Rajinder Beri, halqa incharges Rajinder Singh and Dr Navjot Dahiya and youth leader Ashwin Bhalla. The Congress leaders announced that it would start receiving applications from ticket contenders soon. They announced that a candidate from general category would pay application fee of Rs 10,000 and those from SC category Rs 5,000.

ABOUT JALANDHAR MC

No of wards: 85

Wards reserved for gen category women: 30

Wards reserved for SC women: 13

Wards reserved for SCs: 13

Wards reserved for BCs: 2