Political manoeuvrings in full swing for civic body poll

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 8

Playing political “chess” with perfection, many political parties today checkmated their opponents by making smart moves in the run-up tomunicipal election.

To begin with, Congress MLA Sushil Rinku today secured a berth for his wife Sunita Rinku from ward number 42 by bringing BJP-Akali candidate Vijay Sahota into the party fold. 

Sahota not only withdrew his nomination, but has also joined the Congress formally in the presence of Congress MP Chaudhary Santokh and Sushil Rinku. This is seen as a winning move by Rinku. 

The move has caused a huge embarrassment to the BJP, as it was BJP’s state President Vijay Sampla who brought Congress worker Sahota into party fold during assembly elections. Sahota, being a Valmiki leader, had announced his support to the BJP, but now with just a call made by Rinku has made him run back to the old party. 

However, another independent candidate Geeta Rani from the same ward today lodged a complaint against Rinku, accusing him of ‘threatening’ to withdraw her nomination. Rani in her complaint, alleged that Rinku was sending men repeatedly to her home and even calling repeatedly to withdraw her nomination against his wife. She said since Rinku wanted to make his wife win unopposed, he was interfering in the democratic process of the MC.

Earlier also, he cautioned the BJP-Akali by bringing theBJP worker Darshan Lal Bhagat into party fold. Bhagat though sought ticket from ward number 77, but was denied by the party. Perturbed, he announced his support to the Congress candidate Pawan Kumar from the same ward. 

BJP too earned some brownie points 

Meanwhile, BJP too had managed to bring home some brownie points by wooing workers who were contesting the elections as independent candidates. While Dinesh Kamal and Amarjit Goldy who were contesting the elections independently from ward number 26 and 24 independently, they too withdrew nominations and announced their support back to party.