Hand rock solid, broom makes inroads

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 11

The Congress has won eight out of the 14 Assembly seats in Ludhiana while the SAD is able to wrest only one seat. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) have got three and two seats, respectively. 

While five Congress MLAs retained their seats, only one Akali Dal MLA – Sahnewal legislator Sharanjit Singh Dhillon – was able to retain his. The Bains brothers, Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balvinder Singh Bains, maintained their winning streak. The BJP that had fielded three candidates failed to open its account in the district, which was a repeat of 2012 elections. 

Out of the six urban Assembly constituencies, four i.e. Ludhiana East, Ludhiana West, Ludhiana North and Ludhiana Central went to the Congress. The Bains brothers retained Ludhiana South and Atam Nagar seats. Simarjeet Bains defeated his friend-turned-foe Kamaljit Singh Karwal, who was the Congress candidate from Atam Nagar, by 16,913 votes.

From the rural/semi-urban segments, AAP won Dakha, Jagraon and Raikot seats while the Congress registered its win in Samrala, Khanna, Gill and Payal segments. Jagraon and Raikot, two of the three Assembly segments from where AAP won, are reserved seats. Payal and Gill are the other reserved constituencies in the district. 

The veterans who lost included Hira Singh Gabria, Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Malkit Singh Dakha and Santa Singh Umaidpuri. 

Among the winners who had contested their maiden political elections were AAP candidates Sarvjit Kaur Manuke and Jagtar Singh Jagga Hissowal, and Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Vaid, a former bureaucrat. 

Women candidates

Among the three women candidates fielded by the main political parties, only the AAP candidate from Jagraon, Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, registered her win. 

Amarjit Kaur Sahoke, the SAD candidate from Jagraon, finished third, while the Congress candidate from Sahnewal, Satwinder Kaur Bitti, lost by 4,551 votes. Singer-turned-politician Bitti joined the Congress recently. 

Comparison with 2012 Assembly elections

In the 2012 Assembly elections, the Congress and the SAD had won six seats each, with Bains brothers getting two seats as Independents. As in 2012 elections, this time also the BJP lost from all three constituencies – Ludhiana West, Ludhiana North and Ludhiana Central – from where it fielded its candidates.

Interesting facts

• In Ludhiana district, eight MLAs – five from the Congress, two from Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) and one from the Akali Dal retained their seats.
• From councillor to legislator: Congress Councillor Sanjeev Talwar won Ludhiana East seat. 
• Barring Sharanjit Singh Dhillon who registered his win in Sahnewal and Dakha candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali, who has drawn appreciation for developing high-tech parks in his constituency, no other SAD candidate managedto finish even second in any of the remaining 12 constituencies in the district. 

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News makers

Ashu wins by highest margin 

Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Congress candidate from Ludhiana West, not only won by the highest margin of 36,521 in the district but also surpassed his last time’s record by nearly 600 votes. Ashu managed to poll the second highest number of votes (66,627) in Ludhiana district.

Vaid surprises all, polls highest votes

Kuldeep Vaid from the Congress won from the Gill constituency, which came as a big surprise. He defeated Jiwan Singh Sangowal from AAP by a margin of 8,641. Sitting MLA Darshan Singh Shivalik came at the third position. Vaid, who was DC Moga, resigned from the post to enter politics. He polled the highest number of votes (67,927) in Ludhiana district.

Talwar proves rebels wrong

Sanjeev Talwar from the Congress was another big surprise. He won by a margin of 1,581 votes from Ludhiana East. Congress leaders from the city vouched for Manish Tiwari as candidate from this seat. After the announcement of Talwar’s candidature, who is a councillor, several local Congress leaders turned rebels.

Saving grace for SAD

Sharanjit Singh Dhillon from the SAD won by a margin of 4,551 votes. A veteran of politics, Dhillon has also served as MP. He gave a tough fight to singer-turned-politician Satwinder Bitti from the Congress, a first-timer. Dhillon is the only SAD candidate who managed to win from Ludhiana district.

Victorious for the fifth time

Rakesh Pandey of the Congress has gained victory from Ludhiana North for the fifth time. Contesting from the seat since 1992, he has won four times, losing only in 2007. Though there were seasoned leaders in the fray, including independents Hemraj Aggarwal, a Congress rebel, and Madan Lal Bagga, a SAD rebel, the 61-year-old veteran won again.   (By Manav Mander)

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Congress: 8

• Ludhiana East
• Ludhiana Central
• Ludhiana North
• Ludhiana West
• Gill constituency
• Payal  (SC)
• Khanna
• Samrala

AAP: 3

• Dakha
• Raikot (SC)
• Jagraon (SC)

LIP: 2

• Ludhiana South
• Atam Nagar

SAD: 1

• Sahnewal

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PROMINENT WINNERS

I am thankful to the people for suppor-ting me. It was a triangular fight but it was only due to the support of the people that I emerged as a winner and that too by the highest margin in Ludhiana district. I will keep working for the people and for their welfare. — Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Cong, Ldh west

Though AAP could not form govern-ment, it managed to win many seats due to its ideals while other parties distributed liquor and drugs to woo voters. I will also urge Capt Amarinder Singh to fulfil all promises he made during the elections. — HS Phoolka, AAP, Dakha

I had no doubt and am too elated that people in the constituency reposed faith in me once again. I am here to serve the people of my constituency, I will continue to do so. — Simarjeet Bains, LIP, Atam Nagar

I won the seat for the fifth time and it is also a verdict in favour of the Congress. People have confidence in me and in the party. That is why people have given a clear majority to the Congress. I was confident of winning right from the beginning. — Rakesh Pandey, Cong, Ldh North 

It was a tight situation during the counting, but it’s good that people have voted in favour of me and that of the Congress. I have devoted my life in service to the people. I would continue to do so as people’s representative as well. — Kuldeep Singh Vaid, Cong, Gill

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Losers

I respect the decision of people. I will be indebted to all those who voted for me. I urged AAP leader HS Phoolka to do the best for the welfare of the people. — Manpreet Singh Ayali, SAD  

What-ever is the mandate is acceptable to us. We are ‘fakkar’ and have nothing to win or lose. The Congress has done too well in Punjab. — Kanwaljeet Singh Karwal, Cong

Winning and losing is part of the game but I would keep working for the welfare of the people of my constituency and will stand by them. — Parveen Bansal, BJP

Repeat winners

• Gurkirat Singh Kotli, INC
• Amrik Singh Dhillon, INC
• Sharanjit Dhillon SAD
• Balvinder Bains, LIP (Independent in 2012 polls)
• Simarjeet Singh Bains, LIP (Independent in 2012 polls)
• Surinder Dawar, INC
• Rakesh Pandey, INC
• Bharat Bhushan Ashu, INC

Repeat losers  

• Ranjit Singh Talwandi, SAD
• Hira Singh Gabria, SAD
• Parveen Bansal, BJP
• Malkit Singh Dakha, INC