The overwhelming mandate given to the BJP seems to be an indication of Panchkula residents’ desire to see a “triple engine government” speed up development projects that have been hanging fire.
A veteran BJP leader as the mayor and 17 councillors put the party in a unique position to get funds from the state government and push multiple agencies such as the HSIDC, HSVP, PMDA and the UHVP to complete the projects.
The Jhuriwala dumping ground project, Sukhdarshapur cattle pound, crumbling sewerage, potholed roads and dilapidated bridges on the Ghaggar and outer sectors of Panchkula demand immediate attention.
In 2020, Kulbhushan Goyal-led BJP got nine seats, JJP two, Congress 7 and Independents 2 but the residents feel the pace of development works slackened during the past five years.
The today’s mandate has put the onus on the BJP to complete the long-standing projects.
Being at the helm in the state and the Centre, the BJP was a formidable force with the election campaign built around the “triple engine government” narrative.
The BJP deftly deflected the anti-incumbency factor. Not very long before the polling day, the BJP’s campaign looked to fall off track due to issues concerning ticket allotment but the senior party leadership did well to rein in rebels. In Ward No 12, the BJP denied ticket to its sitting councillor Omwati Poonia and expelled the husband-wife
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