Jind bypoll: LSP candidate, 2 Independents file papers

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jind, January 8

Three candidates, including Vinod Ashri, a nominee of the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP), filed nominations for the Jind Assembly byelection on Tuesday.

Advocates Surender Bibipur and Dharamvir Chotiwala also filed nominations as Independents. Nominations began on January 3 and the first three candidates submitted their papers to the returning officers on Tuesday.

The last date of filing nominations is January 10 but the ruling BJP, Congress, INLD-BSP alliance and JJP are yet to announce their candidates.

A postgraduate in Hindi, Ashri was accompanied by rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini, a patron of the LSP, for filing nomination papers. He sat atop an auto rickshaw which was driven by Saini. They moved around the city with an ample number of supporters before reaching the mini secretariat. Auto rickshaw is the election symbol of LSP. According to the affidavit, Ashri has moveable assets worth Rs 13.69 lakh whereas his spouse has assets to the tune of Rs 77.74 lakh. Inherited immoveable assets in name of the LSP candidate is worth Rs 1.31 crore whereas his wife has properties worth Rs 51.11 lakh.

Meanwhile, Amit Khatri, DC-cum-district election officer, has appointed two nodal officers to monitor paid news, advertisements, publicity material and expenses incurred by the candidates on vehicles and official works. Khatri said the Election Commission had deputed three officials as observers.

Ex-IPS officer extends support to JJP:

Ranbir Sharma, president of Rashtriya Lok Swaraj Party, announced support to Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in the Jind byelection on Tuesday. Sharma, an ex-IPS officer, shared a public dais here with JJP’s patron Ajay Chautala. Ajay, undergoing jail term in a recruitment scam of JBTs, is out on parole from Tihar jail. Ajay said a candidate for Jind bypoll would be announced soon.

Ajay has narrow escape

Ajay Chautala had a narrow escape after a rear wheel of his SUV came out near Narwana on Tuesday afternoon.

He was accompanied by JJP state president Nishan Singh. The vehicle hit a divider. However, no one sustained any serious injury in the mishap.

Control room set up

Chandigarh: Virender Sehrawat, SDM-cum-Returning Officer of Jind Assembly constituency, said in view of the byelections, a control room had been set up at the SDM office in the Jind mini secretariat. Any person can contact the control room at telephone number 01681-245040 to get their issues resolved. TNS