It is SAD versus the rest in Bilga

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 15

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), who have had their panches and sarpanches in Bilga (earlier, the biggest village and now going for the first nagar panchayat polls) and ruled here for the past 15 years, are a worried lot.

Jalandhar Cantonment ex-MLA Jagbir Brar, who had recently contested from Nakodar seat as Congress candidate, has twisted the entire game to his benefit. It is now SAD versus the rest of the parties in these elections. Of the 38 candidates in fray from 13 wards, 12 are of SAD, one independent (supported by the SAD), 13 jointly supported by the Congress, AAP, BSP and CPI.

Brar says, “I want to turn the tables at Bilga (which has a rich history of over 70 freedom fighters and Gadharites hailing from here). I have been campaigning here whole day since the announcement of elections.”

Second time SAD MLA from Nakodar (in which Bilga falls) Gurpartap Wadala says, “My opponents are using the official machinery for devising all the wrong means to manage a victory from here. There are so much discrepancies in the voter lists that it paves a clear way for bogus voting. Some people have votes in two wards. There are also some lists in which the voters have their names, father names, age and sex but not their addresses and photos, which will surely be used a ploy during elections.”