New faces, Malout looks for new phase

Archit Watts

On entering Malout town from Muktsar, a roundabout covered with a thick layer of dust welcomes us. A part of it is damaged because of frequent road mishaps; a non-functional fountain and partially torn traffic signboards make the roundabout an eyesore.

After criss-crossing a few streets, we enter West Patel Nagar. Kailash Rani points to heaps of garbage. “It’s a street turned into a dump site. The MLA (Harpreet Singh from SAD) visited the area a few days ago, assuring residents that garbage will be lifted. But nothing has been done,” she says.

At PUDA Colony, a youth says, “Bibi Surinder Kaur Badal (late wife of CM Parkash Singh Badal) used to announce from stage that the town would be converted into ‘Mini Chandigarh’. Sadly, she passed away. The town is facing neglect since then.”

An elderly man, Joginder Singh, dismisses his argument, saying, “When Malout was part of the Faridkot parliamentary seat, from where Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had contested, it witnessed major development. And when it became part of the Ferozepur parliamentary constituency, the Badals diverted their attention.” 

The resentment is not palpable in Aulakh village. Baljit Singh and Nachhattar Singh want Akalis to field Harpreet again. “He tries his best to serve the people, though he has little say in the administration and a Jathedar interferes in his work,” Baljit says.

But the SAD has replaced two-time MLA from Malout Harpreet with Darshan Singh Kotfatta. The Congress has dropped Nathu Ram, who had lost to Harpreet twice, and fielded former PCS officer Ajaib Singh Bhatti. Nathu Ram wants to contest from Balluana. AAP has fielded Baldev Singh Azad, a retired principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Lakhewali village. 

What are the prospects of candidates? Some youths outside a gurdwara in Chibbaranwali village point to the trend. They take us to a street recently laid with paver blocks. “This is the lone concrete street in the village, which leads to the sarpanch’s house. This time, we may look for an alternative,” one of them says.