Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May 27
The Congress government’s performance in the last 14 months will be put to test as Shahkot goes to the polls on Monday.
The electors will also take a crucial decision as to whether the Congress can complete its two-thirds majority by getting 78th seat in the 117-member Assembly.
While Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia is banking on the tendency of the people to go with the government for more development in their area, the Akali Dal is hopeful to retain the seat in its 21-year-old bastion.
The bypoll was necessitated due to the demise of five-time Akali MLA Ajit Singh Kohar in February. His son Naib Singh Kohar is the party candidate this time.
Cong had a bad start
The Congress started its campaign on a bad note following the registration of an FIR against Laddi for illegal mining just a day after the announcement of his candidature. The party had to face a lot of trouble in initial days. Five local leaders from the constituency, who were also ticket seekers, had labelled Laddi as a “controversial candidate” and constantly demanded his replacement.
Former minister Rana Gurjit Singh stood by his side and turned out to be his poll strategist along with Capt Sandeep Sandhu, CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s OSD, who resigned from his post to be here. The election is also the test of abilities of Rana and Laddi, who got 13 ministers, former ministers and most MLAs to campaign door to door. They successfully made many sarpanches switch over to the Congress. The CM was here for two days, first for the nomination and then for a roadshow on Saturday. PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu also gave a boost to the Congress campaign.
SAD put up a good fight
The Akali Dal does not want its share of seats in the Vidhan Sabha come down from 15 to 14. It thus put up a strong fight. Party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and former minister Bikram Majithia camped here for eight days. Managing to get prominent Aam Aadmi Party leaders by their side, they made the contest with the ruling party go neck-and-neck. Former minister Daljit Singh Cheema and Sukhbir’s media adviser Jangveer Singh handled the campaign by daily issuing statements against Congress ministers, levelling allegations against Laddi and lodging complaints with the Election Commission of India.
AAP lacked zeal
Campaigning by the Aam Aadmi Party, which had secured 41,010 votes in the last year’s Assembly polls, remained lacklustre. Their NRI candidate Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan was mostly seen campaigning on his own. The party saw its 2017 candidate switching over to the Akali Dal. Party leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira, showed up primarily during nomination and a roadshow. Party incharge Manish Sisodia failed to turn up even once, although MP Bhagwant Mann made an appearance on the last day.
Main issues
Illegal mining remains the main issue followed by water pollution, failed muskmelon crop, no college, bad roads, drug and illicit liquor.
Previous result
Ajit Singh Kohar (SAD): 46,913 votes
Hardev Singh Laddi (Cong): 42,008 votes
Amarijit Singh Thind (AAP): 41,010
Factfile
No. of voters: 1.72 lakh
Male: 88,885
Female: 83,194
Candidates in fray: 12
Polling staff strength: 2,500
Booths: 236
Stations: 189
Vulnerable polling
booths: 96
Polling booths for
webcasting: 103
Booths with
micro-observers: 64
Security staff strength: 2,000
Check posts: 25
Videographers
deployed: 30