Parties rope in star campaigners in last hours of intense canvassing in Amritsar
Amritsar, February 17
The poll campaigning intensified in the district on Thursday as most political parties wanted to capitalise on the last 24 hours of canvassing. According to Chief Electoral Officer’s directions, all poll-related campaigning and canvassing on social and electronic media will cease from 6 pm onwards on February 18 in Punjab.
It was a hectic day for poll aspirants as several national political bigwigs visited the city as star campaigners. The BJP and the Congress had big names coming to the city to support local candidates of their respective parties on Thursday.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a ‘jan sabha’ and later participated in campaigning for the BJP’s Amritsar Central candidate, Dr Ram Chawla. The BJPhas been engaging prominent leaders, including Hardeep Singh Puri and VK Singh, to campaign for its candidates Jagmohan Raju (Amritsar East) and Kumar Amit (Amritsar West). Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a rally here on Sunday.
In another big event, today Harsimrat Kaur Badal held a roadshow in support of the SAD candidates in the city. She also held general meetings and door-to-door activities in various wards. The Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, held a roadshow in support of Rajkumar Verka, their candidate from Amritsar West on Wednesday evening.
Today, the Congress women wing leaders, including Navjot Kaur Sidhu, and the All India Mahila Congress president, Netta Dsouza, campaigned for Rajkumar Verka. Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, too, held door-to-door campaign in Amritsar East for party candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu.
The AAP candidate, Jeevan Jyot Kaur, ramped up her canvassing by organising door-to-door campaign and ‘jan sabhas’ in Amritsar East. She was joined by the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, in her campaigning. Bikram Singh Majithia, too, held multiple rallies and door-to-door activities in the Amritsar East.
Channi addresses rally in Tarn Taran, Patti
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi addressed election rallies in the favour of party candidates from Tarn Taran, Khemkaran and Patti constituencies. While addressing a rally at Jhabal, Channi attacked AAP’s CM face Bhagwant Mann and said how can people of the state handover its possession to an ‘irresponsible’ person who has failed to take care of his own wife. Channi also highlighted the development schemes of his government. He appealed to the people to vote for Dr Dharamber Agnihotri, party candidate from Tarn Taran, Sukhpal Singh Bhullar from Khemkaran and Harminder Singh Gill from Patti.
10K personnel deployed on poll duty
Amritsar: As many as 10,660 personnel have been deployed in 11 Assembly constituencies of the district for the upcoming elections. The third and the last election training and rehearsals were held on Thursday. District Electoral Officer Gurpreet Singh Khaira visited several centres and interacted with the staff. He said each booth would have a micro observer, who would report directly to the Election Commission. Besides, all booths will be under surveillance. “Election officials, including myself, and Returning Officers, will be able to watch the live broadcast,” he said. Khaira said 904 employees have been posted for Ajnala constituency. Similarly, 1,068 for Rajasansi , 1,012 for Majitha , 1,040 for Jandiala, 1,052 for Amritsar North, 1,024 for Amritsar West, 788 for Amritsar Central, 840 for Amritsar East, 840 for Amritsar South, 972 for Attari and 1124 for Baba Bakala. TNS
Campaigning ends today
Amritsar: Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer Gurpreet Singh Khaira asked the civil and police officers to ensure strict implementation of all pre-poll instructions of the Election Commission as the campaign would end 48 hours before polling on February 20. In addition, dry day would be imposed 48-hour before polling. The district administration has also declared dry day on the counting day (March 10). “All political activists and outsiders campaigning for different candidates and political parties in different constituencies will have to stop campaigning 48 hours before polling starts. Activists and political leaders, who have come from outside and are not constituency voters cannot stay in the constituency after the campaign period ends,” said Khaira. He asked all political parties and candidates to make politicians from outside aware of the EC instructions. In addition to inspecting the list of occupants of lodges and guest houses, the civil and police administrations will conduct inspections here as well as at community halls, where presence of outsiders will be inspected. TNS
