Election Commission appoints observer for Majithia constituency

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 18

Keeping in view the sensitivity of the situation in the Majitha Assembly constituency, the Election Commission of India has appointed a senior IAS officer as an observer to keep a watch on proceedings and record the grievances.

Radhey Sham Mishra, a senior IAS officer, has been appointed election observer for the constituency. He undertook inspection of various election activities in the segment.

Mishra appealed to the electorate of Majitha to bring to his notice any poll violation and other complaints from the area. He would be available in person at Circuit House for an hour from 9 am to 10 am.

The Assembly constituency has gained attention as the Akali candidate Bikram Singh Majitha is seeking re-election for the third consecutive time while the AAP has fielded Himmat Singh Shergill and the Congress Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia. The oposition parties are using their force to dislodge the Akali leader while the latter was also campaigning with full might to overcome the challenge.

The AAP has evinced keen interest in winning the seat as the party convener Arvind Kejriwal has visited many a time for canvassing. He is expected to pay more visits in the days ahead. In all, Kejriwal is expected to hold 10 road shows in Majitha during the canvassing period.

Similarly, Lalli Majithia has been relentlessly contesting the elections against Bikram Majithia. He had polled 26,000 votes as Congress rebel in the 2012 assembly elections while party candidate Shalinderjit Singh Shelly polled 8,000 votes. Earlier also, he had contested unsuccessfully against Majithia in the 2007 Assembly elections.

He has been accusing Akali leaders from this predominantly rural segment of intimidation, threats and even registration of fake FIRs against the Congress workers.