Aggressive election campaign begins

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 18

Candidates and supporters from all major parties, be it Congress, BJP, SAD, LIP or AAP, are leaving no stone unturned in registering a win.

The “intense” campaigning has been started by candidates and their supporters. Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media sites are flooded with poll-related messages and videos.

Rahul Kumar, a resident of Rani Jhansi Road, said the societies/ welfare societies/individuals are holding lunches/dinners/ high-tea in support of their favourite candidates/parties.

“Recently, a dinner was hosted by the society in favour of a candidate. But voters act smart and attend parties of all major candidates, contesting in the same ward. They give assurance to all those who come to them for support,” he said.

“You open Facebook and live videos are all over the wall. Candidates from BJP/Congress/AAP/LIP are seen seeking votes from residents. Some seem humble, others aggressive and the election scene is heating up with each passing day. Interestingly, the better halves and family members of the respective candidates, too, leave homes early in the morning and conduct door to door campaigns. They all look so active before elections, but once results are out, none will be visible in the ward,” said Manjinder Kaur, a resident of BRS Nagar.

Not only this, get togethers, kitty parties and even religious gatherings are not spared by the supporters of contesting candidates as they are seen persuading people to cast their vote for a particular candidate.

Some candidates promise to come up with smooth roads in their respective wards, while others woo voters for getting a public park in the ward. Some others assure to come up with a good library for youngsters and senior citizens. “These are pre-poll promises by candidates. Once they win, they will not be seen interacting with residents like this,” a voter said.

DC expresses satisfaction over poll arrangements 

Ludhiana: District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal visited the counting centres on Sunday and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the local administration for the Ludhiana MC election process.  He said foolproof security arrangements are being made for the elections to be conducted on February 24.  He was accompanied by Additional District Electoral Officer-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta. Agrawal said the counting of ward-wise votes under the jurisdiction of Returning Officer (RO)-1 Navraj Singh Brar would be held at Kundan Vidya Mandir School, Civil Lines; under RO-2 Amarjeet Singh Bains would be held at Malwa Central College of Education, Ghumar Mandi; under RO-3 Amit Bamby would be held at Khalsa College for Girls; under RO-4 Damanjeet Singh at Government Polytechnic College, Rishi Nagar; counting of wards under RO-5 Gurminder Singh at Government College for Girls; under RO-6 Joginder Singh at Arya College; under RO-7 Lovejeet Kaur Kalsi at Government College for Boys; under RO-8 Jagseer Singh at MGM Public Senior Secondary School, Urban Estate Phase-2, Dugri; and under RO-9 Swati Tiwana would be held at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar.