MC poll: Ticket aspirants submit names with parties

Political parties have pulled up their socks and become active as hustle and bustle can be seen among the parties at the local level as notification to conduct the Municipal Corporation (MC) elections by the end of December has been issued by the government.

The local party leaders and workers who are aspiring for the ticket to contest for the upcoming elections are submitting their names with their parties. The decision regarding the final names of the candidates will be taken by the parties after seeking public opinion or conducting surveys.

A total of 495 ticket aspirants have submitted their names with the BJP. District president of the BJP Rajneesh Dhiman said they had received 495 applications from the ticket seekers for the upcoming MC elections.

“There are a few ticket aspirants from each ward and the candidates will be chosen on a merit basis. We will conduct a survey to know about the aspirants and preference will be given to old party workers. A committee will be formed soon to take the final decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress has received 255 applications and the last date for accepting the same is November 25. “Old councillors will be given preference. Public opinion will be sought before finalising the names and we have received over one name from each ward. We are confident of forming the MC House and the next Mayor of Ludhiana will be from the Congress,” said District Congress Committee president Sanjay Talwar.

On 14 seats, only one aspirant each has submitted the names and these are former councillors. A three-member committee comprising state president of the DCC and halqa in-charge will take the final decision regarding the names.

While from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), over 200 applications have been submitted by aspirants. “We have received more than one application from each ward. A committee will be formed to take the final decision and opinion of the public will also be sought in this regard,” said Sharanpal Singh Makkar, district president, AAP.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will be contesting the elections alone this time. Earlier, it was in alliance with the BJP. Till now, the party has received 234 applications while more will be received in coming days. One or two applications have been received from wards contested by the BJP in the past while from remaining wards where SAD used to contest, around three applications have been received by the party.

Cong won 62 of 95 wards in previous elections

The last elections to the Municipal Corporation were held in 2018 in which the Congress bagged 62 of the 95 wards. The SAD had won 11 and the BJP managed to get 10 wards. AAP had won just one seat. Four Independent candidates had also emerged victorious.