Last date for filing papers today, parties yet to declare all aspirants

Even as Thursday is the last day for filing of nominations for elections to the Municipal Corporation, the main political parties are yet to declare their complete list of candidates from the 85 wards here. For the elections scheduled for December 21, only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has so far announced candidates from all the wards.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also declared a list of candidates from 75 wards. AAP leaders stated that the remaining candidates too would be announced shortly. The Congress too announced a second list of candidates from 35 wards on Wednesday.

The Congress had earlier announced its candidates from 37 wards on Tuesday evening. With this, the party has fielded its candidates from 72 wards. The party leadership stated that the names of the candidates from the remaining wards would be finalised today itself.

While the political parties are busy selecting candidates from the wards, the residents are missing the usual hustle and bustle associated with the elections. Instead of reaching out to the voters, the candidates are presently busy getting no objection certificates (NOCs) from various government departments.

On the second last day for filing of nominations for MC elections, only 21 aspirants submitted their papers to the returning officers on Wednesday. Only one candidate had filed nomination papers yesterday.

The election office for Baba Bakala Nagar Panchayat has so far received no nominations for elections to 13 wards. For Rayya Nagar Panchayat, the election office received only three nominations.

In Majitha also, no candidate has filed nominations till date. For Nagar Panchayat Ajnala, only one candidate has filed nomination so far, and in Rajasansi, eight nominations have been received. The District Election Office stated that only 34 nominations have been received till date for elections of Municipal Corporation Amritsar and the Nagar Panchayats of Baba Bakala, Rayya, Raja Sansi, Ajnala and Majitha Nagar Council.

The candidates stated that the government had announced elections abruptly and there was no time for the candidates to keep their documents ready. With tomorrow being the last date for filing of nominations, a huge rush is expected at the offices of returning officers provided the candidates are able to get all NOCs.