In the Majha region, all eyes are on the Batala Municipal Corporation (MC) elections as AAP MLA Sherry Kalsi is seeking to wrest the MC House from the Congress. In the previous House, comprising 50 councillors, the Congress reigned supreme.
The AAP was a non-entity then, but now it is a force to reckon with. Kalsi has pitchforked his brother, Amrit Kalsi, as the party nominee from Ward 35.
He is also seen as the next Mayor of the town, provided the AAP gets a majority.
The election is a three-way fight between the AAP, Congress and the BJP.
The AAP is contesting all 50 seats, while Congress has its candidates vying for 49 seats.
Batala was considered a stronghold of the BJP not long ago, but the party’s popularity seems to be declining now. It is contesting for only 15 seats.
Rival parties have vociferously been claiming that the MLA has deleted votes en-masse. Countering the claims, Kalsi said, “It is a figment of the imagination of opposition leaders. They should either prove the allegation, or drop it from their agenda. They have developed a knack for attacking me without any rhyme or reason.”
In Pathankot too, the fight is between the Congress, BJP and the AAP.
The Congress is being led by ex-MLA Amit Vij, the BJP by Punjab working president and sitting MLA Ashwani Sharma, and the AAP by Lal Chand Kataruchak.
The SAD is nowhere to be seen in the town.
Vij held several meetings in each ward before finalising the party ticket. His party is seen as having an edge. His brother, Ashish Vij, has been given charge of ensuring the party candidates’ victory.
