Parties start aggressive campaigning after finalising candidates

After finalising candidates, political parties and aspirants have started aggressive campaign in all 85 wards of the city and 30 wards of the periphery towns. Leaders are organising rallies and meeting to woo voters. In all, 477 candidates are in the poll fray.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party is contesting in all 85 wards. The Congress is contesting in 82 wards and BJP in 83. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has fielded candidates in 55 wards of the holy city. Around 170 candidates are contesting elections as an Independent. The Congress and the BJP are supporting independents in wards from where both the parties are not contesting the civic body polls.

Last evening, AAP leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal addressed three rallies. Addressing the gathering during a rally in New Amritsar area, he assured residents to fulfil all poll promises. Today, former Deputy CM Om Parkash Soni held election rallies in favour of his nephew Vikas Soni who is contesting from Ward No. 52. While inaugurating the election office in the Roop Nagar area, OP Soni said Fateh Singh Colony from where Vikas Soni was elected councillor last time was reserved for SC candidates this time.

Former councillor Reena Chopra had left her seat for Vikas Soni. Residents of the Roop Nagar area in Ward No. 52 decided to elect Vikas Soni as their councillor. While criticising the AAP government, OP Soni claimed that the public was disappointed from the policies of the ruling dispensation in the state.

Addressing participants at a public meeting, Mahesh Khanna, candidate from Ward No. 56, said, “I have been serving the ward for the last four terms and raised public issues and fought for their resolution. Residents are well aware about who works for the development in the area. There is no need to criticise any opponent. I have a long list of works, which I have done in the previous years, while serving as councillor.”

Raj Kawal Preet Singh Lucky, the Congress candidate from Ward No. 13 campaigned for his daughter Dr Shobit Kaur in Ward No. 9.

Meanwhile, after rejection of nomination papers, Congress candidate from Ward No. 58 Iqbal Singh Sherry alleged that the ruling party was using its power to remove opponents from the poll fray. Blaming the AAP candidate from his ward, Sherry alleged that he tried to remove him, but failed. Taranjeet Kaur Sherry, wife of Iqbal Singh Sherry, filed nomination papers as covering candidate. After rejection of Iqbal Singh’s nominations, Taranjit Kaur is contesting the election on the Congress ticket.

“The AAP candidate stated in public that he will win the election after removing me through the state machinery. However, he is unaware that my wife is still in the poll battle. I have exposed dual face of the ruling government which claims to conduct fair elections. My Congress party is with me. We will defeat turncoat candidate of the AAP,” said Iqbal Singh.