Malaudh election: Voters want end to violence, drug menace

Campaigning for the nagar panchayat election at Malaudh and for one ward each at Khanna and Samrala picked up pace on the last day as senior leaders of Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, SAD and BJP were seen attending meetings organised by their respective candidates. Voting for 13 wards (ward number 2 at Khanna, ward number 12 at Samrala and 11 wards at Malaudh) is scheduled to take place on December 21.

Contrary to the usual trend when only local leaders used to seek votes for candidates put up by their respective parties, office-bearers of various constitutional bodies, chairpersons of market committees and trusts, besides regional political leaders, are approaching voters of wards allotted to them to seek votes for their respective candidates. Youth leaders were the most sought after during the election campaign.

Besides, this time voters are keeping their cards close to their chest as they don’t wish to be labelled as opponents of any candidate, irrespective of his or her political allegiance.

Sarpanch of Ber Khurad village Gurmit Singh, who had been camping at Malaudh to work for the election campaign of some AAP candidates, said majority of voters were not disclosing their inclination, a trend contrary to panchayat elections, where voting pattern was more transparent.

Chairman, Land Mortgage Bank, Malaudh, Gurpreet Singh said regional leaders of all political parties, except Shiromani Akali Dal, were trying their best to seek votes for their respective candidates. AAP MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura, former Congress MLA Lakhvir Singh Lakha, chairmen of education cell, BJP, Sanjiv Maudgil and BJP Khanna district president Bhupinder Singh Cheema were leaving no stone unturned for ensuring victory of their respective candidates.

The region has also observed a new trend about aspirations and demands of voters. Unlike earlier when voters used to ask for assurance about development works and provision of civic amenities, residents this time are equivocally demanding crusade against drugs and narcotics, besides violence in the region.

“People have comprehended by now that sanitation, streetlight, water supply and motorable roads and streets will be looked after by the civic bodies sooner or later, but eradication of social evils, including drug addiction, domestic violence and hooliganism, needs action by elected representatives in the local body organisations,” said Jagjiwan Singh, a youth from Malaudh.