Poster war peaks, walls defaced in Jalandhar

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, July 7

With only two remaining for the Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll, political atmosphere is charged with fervent campaigning. Posters and hoardings of political parties can be seen displayed in almost every part of the constituency.

Candidates of major parties are pulling out all stops to capture the attention of voters, engaging in door-to-door campaigning, levelling allegations, counter-allegations, showcasing their achievements and making promises through an array of eye-catching posters and slogans.

On their social media platforms too, candidates have been posting pictures, videos and reels of their activities and the response they are receiving from the public. Moreover, the candidates also go live on social media platforms to criticise their rivals.

Jalandhar West is awash with vibrant banners and flags, predominantly those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). High-profile leaders, including Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s wife and sister, former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, both Members of Parliament, have been actively campaigning and taking part in public meetings.

Public and private properties have become a canvas for relentless poster campaign. Walls of houses in areas such as Basti Bawa Khel, Basti Nau, Basti Guzan and Mithu Basti are plastered with campaign material as are government buildings like Suvidha centres. Hoardings line the roads, hang from electricity poles and cover shops and roadside kiosks, leaving no space untouched.

The Congress has prominently featured former CM Charanjit Singh Channi on banners and posters supporting its candidate Surinder Kaur, banking on Channi’s popularity and his recent electoral success in Jalandhar.

In contrast, the BJP has adorned its candidate Sheetal Angural’s campaign material with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former MP Sushil Rinku, highlighting the Modi government’s achievements.

BJP posters also emphasise four guarantees – providing pucca houses for the needy, health insurance coverage up to Rs 5 lakh, ‘Lakhpati Didi Scheme’ offering interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh for women entrepreneurs and 35 kg of wheat for blue card beneficiaries. The AAP, meanwhile, is promoting the slogan, “AAP di Sarkar, AAP da MLA” in its publicity materials.

Amid this poll fervour, residents have voiced frustration over unauthorised posters being affixed to their homes. In response, teams of the district administration and the Municipal Corporation have been actively removing unauthorised publicity materials, striving to maintain order amidst the campaign frenzy.

Efforts to woo voters

Candidates of major parties are pulling out all stops to capture the attention of voters, engaging in door-to-door campaigning, levelling allegations, counter-allegations, showcasing their achievements and making promises through an array of eye-catching posters and slogans.