When you feel yehi hai right choice, press beep button

It’s good to see that the Congress has shown faith in its senior leader and four times Member of Parliament (MP) Pawan Kumar Bansal by giving him the ticket to fight for a fifth term from the Chandigarh constituency. Also the sitting MP, Kiron Kher, needs to finish the already started projects during her five year tenure. Change is always for the better. So, the people of Chandigarh will expect clean and better administration from the new incumbent. The new MP has to give top priority to the deteriorating law and order situation in the city. The police set-up needs to be revamped and made accountable so people’s confidence is restored in the administration. Serious thought needs to be given to re-structure the road network, make a long-term plan for removal of roundabouts and construction of flyovers and provide good public transport to decongest the traffic.  Attention must be given to the 24x7 supply of water and electricity. The new incumbent needs to push the Centre to make the airport commercially viable for the airlines so that more domestic and international flights are connected with the city. 

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Sanjay Chopra

Vote for locals, not for film stars

Before exercising their right, voters must check details of the party for whose candidate they will vote. If the party is involved in criminal and communal activities then it’s a big no. People must vote for the candidate who is not arrogant, approachable, workaholic, not a film star and a local. The candidate should be a  social servant who will develop the city and solve the problems of its residents rather than who jumped into the fray to amass wealth. An educated voter will weigh all pros and cons before casting his/her vote. Sadly, there are some, who for vested interests, vote for the wrong candidate.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon

Must check past record of candidates

The choice of candidates for representing the city is limited as it is the prerogative of political parties. However, city residents are quite astute and intelligent and will not be inveigled by pre-election promises. Instead, they will analyse previous record of candidates, their ability to fulfil promises and expectations of citizens and the track record of parties and their leadership before using the right to suffrage. Voters must prefer a candidate, who understands the city’s problems and has vision and capacity to solve issues. An incumbent, who can get more development projects sanctioned from Central leadership, must get priority. Personal character of the candidate, whether he/she is involved in any scam previously, also matters. Credibility of the candidate among the public is also important.

Deepak Mehra

Don’t get flattered by promises of politicians

We must vote for the candidate, who is known for his social work and regularly visits his/her constituency to know people’s problems and takes them up with the authorities concerned in order to solve them. We should not be taken in by politicians, who promise moon and indulge in ‘jumlebaji’. Voters know who is a perfect candidate.

Rajkumar Kapoor

New incumbent must bring more funds 

The first and foremost thing which the people will like to have in their Member of Parliament (MP), is that he is a local and easily approachable. An MP gets ticket through party and is responsible for pursuing its agenda. The people may have different agenda in their mind, which they would like their new MP to fulfil.  The MP must get more funds in the next Budget to build better education, health and other infrastructure in the city. The employment generation should top his/her agenda for stopping youth from migrating abroad or taking to drugs and crime. He/she must improve condition of government schools, hospitals and buildings, which is deplorable. The MP amends party’s manifesto so that it can be implemented and benefit the city residents. The new incumbent must have the capability to ask questions in the Lok Sabha and bring resolutions for uplifting his/her constituency. 

Wg Cdr (retd) Jasbir Singh Minhas

All three contestants have drawbacks

There is lot of mudslinging going on among the three main contestants from the city during campaigning. What matters is the performance and capability of each candidate to deliver on many burning issues, which have dented the image of 

our City Beautiful and adversely affected the life of those living here. Rising pollution levels, considerable loss of green cover, unhygienic conditions, traffic hassles, rising crime rate, security of women and deterioration in the basic civic amenities are all waiting to be tackled by the new MP. The sitting MP, despite being a nominee of the party, which runs government at the Centre, has not been able to do enough in her constituency. On the other hand, her resistance in getting Metro to ease the traffic problem just for political reasons dampens her electoral prospects. The Congress candidate has a result-oriented approach and past experience, but may not have enough clout at the Central level to push things in the right direction. AAP candidate, a city-based old horse, has the feel of each plaguing issue, but again his image of a party hopper will be a dampener as he may not have his say to get the things done for the betterment of the city. 

SC Luthra

Tried & tested candidates are contesting again

People have no choice in Chandigarh. Although Pawan Bansal, the Congress candidate has a monopoly on this seat, there are many allegations of corruption against him in the previous government. There is hardly any political party left, which Harmohan Dhawan, the AAP candidate, has not joined and left for his selfish motives. He is the promoter and protector of slums, which have blackened the face of City Beautiful just for votes. Kirron Kher is the sitting MP. She was more concerned about her profession and hardly did anything for the city during her tenure.  Whosoever is elected as the city MP must make himself/herself accountable to the people. The law and order situation, rise in crime against women, cleanliness ranking, environment pollution, faulty garbage disposal plant and parking problem need attention. Airport must be fully functional. The Metro project must be approved, which the BJP MP, Kirron Kher, has been opposing. 

Capt (retd) Amar Jeet Kumar 

Lot committed, but barely fulfilled by candidates

The development of the City Beautiful and solutions to residents’ problems is the only consideration in the minds of voters. A lot is propagated and committed by candidates from different parties during election campaigns, but very little is done after being elected. Underpasses and flyovers to ease the flow of traffic, streamlining vehicle parking and reliable local means of transportation like Metro/mono rail will benefit the city. Cleanliness in the city needs attention. Dustbins in market places and children parks are not emptied regularly. Water scarcity is a serious problem in some parts of the city, especially, in southern sectors. Chandigarh is City Beautiful and to maintain its status at No.1 in cleanliness in the country all necessary steps must be taken. Garbage processing plants should be maintained for an uninterrupted operation. Stray dogs in streets have become a headache.

OP Longia

MP should be available 24 hours

The first and foremost consideration while voting for an MP is his/her availability in the city. He should be available for voters round-the-clock to listen to their grievances of residents and find solution. Once a candidate wins, he/she vanishes from his constituency thereby ditching the people, who voted for him. The MP must take up people’s problems in the parliament. The MP should be educated enough. He/she must have a deep knowledge about hardships faced by the people. To spend maximum amount allotted in the MP quota is also vital. The chosen representative should work for the overall development of his constituency.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Keep in mind behaviour of candidates 

Elections aren’t just about pressing the button of a voting machine. It’s about choosing one person to work for our development. The people must keep in mind behaviour and criminal record of the candidates. Often candidates make big promises just to entice voters, but the latter must ensure that these are genuine and can be fulfilled. 

Prachi Utreja

Use MPLAD funds without any bias

Voters feel disappointed when the MP after being elected forgets to fulfil promises as per his/her party’s election manifesto. After being elected on a party ticket or as an independent, the top priority of an MP is to fulfil what he/she promised during his/her campaign or otherwise by drawing a road map for implementation the manifesto without any bias for getting funds allocated from the state/Centre governments. Even funds allotted under the MPLAD scheme should be utilised on development works in the MP’s constituency without any political partiality so that residents are benefited irrespective of their affiliation to any party.

AS Ahuja

MP must concentrate on development

The main priorities of the elected representative after the elections should be the prosperity, development and welfare schemes for undeveloped sectors/villages in south Chandigarh and Panchkula. Residents of these sectors/villages in Chandigarh and Panchkula pay house tax, GST and income tax, besides additional fee for delayed construction without any benefit of proper civic amenities. Lack of markets/shopping complexes and apni mandis inconveniences residents as they have to travel quite a distance to buy items even of daily needs, besides medicines. Besides wastage of valuable time, fuel and money it creates unnecessary congestion, pollution and parking issues. Facilities of bank ATMs, transport, police posts, e-Sampark centres and post offices are available in all rehabilitation colonies developed by the Housing Boards of Chandigarh and Haryana, but elude southern parts of the UT and Panchkula. 

Jai Goel

Welfare work done by aspirants counts

Different dates for voting in the tricity don’t matter. What matters is that residents of the tricity have to elect their representative for the Lok Sabha, whose tenure will be of five years. So, before making a choice for your candidate, amongst other contestants, one must be fully aware of their previous political record such as popularity and interaction with residents of his/her constituency after winning previous election(s), if any, besides welfare work done by him/her. Our criteria for choosing the MP should be, as if, we were to vote for ourselves. Ensure that each voter exercises his/her right to franchise as every vote has its value. 

Balbir Singh Batra 

MP’s focus must be on overall development

It’s generally observed that area/sector wise amenities like proper roads, electricity, educational institutions and adequate parking space in markets prevail on majority of people’s minds while voting. There are a few people, who think of overall development of the city. Provision of Metro in the tricity, more flights from the Chandigarh International Airport, best medical and education facilities for residents must be top priority of all aspirants in Lok Sabha poll. There may be some people, who are tempted for petty personal considerations, which is not fair. Betterment of road transport infrastructure, expediting of pending flyover projects like the Tribune flyover, measures to reduce pollution, ending corruption, check on adulteration and installation of the CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas for tackling crime must be taken up by the future MPs in tricity.

Rajender Kumar Garg

Vote for genuine candidate only

India is a democratic country, whose citizens elect candidates for the Indian parliament and state Assemblies. These candidates run the parliament. They take genuine decisions for welfare of the people as well country. It’s the duty of voters that they should cast their vote for an honest, hardworking, capable and daring candidate, who can understand problems of the people. They can face every type of internal and external problems and solve them bravery. Voters should exercise their right without taking bribe or being selfish. All citizens should participate in the polling process. As time has changed, civilised and educated voters must vote for genuine candidate for the development of the country.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar

Promise to promote region like NCR

The three candidates in the tricity will have to face many challenges. There are a number of common issues to be solved, including effective law and order to control exceeding crime, safety of women, environment pollution, smooth running of traffic, upgrading infrastructure and other basic amenities like water and electricity, parking space in residential and commercial areas, medical and education services and business-friendly atmosphere. These candidates should promise to promote the formation of State Capital Region of Tricity (SCR) similar to National Capital Region (NCR) around Delhi. Tough and old building bylaws and clause of heavy penalties in Chandigarh have irked residents. Candidates must settle need-based issues related to residents, traders and industry and provide facilities of higher education and employment in the tricity.

Sukhpal Singh 

Restore old charm of Chandigarh

People of the tricity, while voting for a candidate, should look up to the individual and not his/her party. He/she should be the one, who can rise above petty politics and meet aspirations of the people. A candidate should also be a person of character and true to his words. In short, the MP elected should bring pride to the ‘Smart City’ by his/her stature and commitment. He should breathe Chandigarh. The priorities of the new MP should be to restore the old charm of Chandigarh, well managed traffic, adequate parking lots, good health and education facilities, housing for the slum dwellers, and a safe and healthy environment for its residents, particularly young women. To achieve that, he/she has to be a team man, and make the UT Administration, including the MC, deliver on the laid down priorities. It has to be an iron fist in velvet glove. 

Colonel (retd) RD Singh 

Must be able to feel residents’ pulse

The foremost responsibility of the modern voter while exercising his/her right should be to focus on the realistic development projects and viable economic schemes as per manifesto during the impending tenure of the elected representatives of the tricity. The prospective candidate should be educated enough to minutely feel the pulse of his/her constituency and provide optimum solution to the satisfaction of the people. The candidate so elected should be sincere to start new projects and accomplish previous running public works. Sufficient funds may be arranged by the new incumbent for major projects and economic development schemes. Priority should be given to public health schemes, improvement in drinking water supply, uninterrupted power, solution to traffic congestion and modern mechanism for lifting and disposal of solid waste. 

Bhupinder S Sealopal

Work on health, education, employment

The new MP must work for health, education and employment. A lot of improvement is needed in healthcare in the tricity. Civil dispensaries are always found wanting in terms of facilities, be it sanitation, medicines, space or doctors. Dispensaries must b