Ward delimitation out, Oppn cries foul

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 22

The Local Bodies Department, Punjab, has issued a notification for the new delimitation of Municipal Corporation (MC) wards in Ludhiana. The number of wards has been increased from 75 to 95 — the highest in the state. The MC elections are likely to be held in January or February.

The lists of new wards were displayed at the civic body offices on Friday. The public can submit objections and suggestions within seven days of publishing of this notification.

Of the 95 wards, 56 wards have been reserved under various categories, while 39 are general. Of the 56 reserved wards, 40 wards are reserved for women, seven for Scheduled Caste, seven for Scheduled Caste (woman) category and two for Backward Class (BC) candidates.

The numbers of certain existing wards have also been rearranged. The civic body had earlier carried out a survey to check current population in the areas that fall under its jurisdiction as wards were to be equally divided as per the population. With Ludhiana’s population being 17.68 lakh, the number of wards has been increased to 95 for the upcoming civic body elections. It is learnt that the MC has formed a committee to collect the objections from public.

Notably, Lok Insaf Party MLAs Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh, had earlier questioned the MC’s survey for the delimitation of wards, due to which the survey in some wards was conducted again. As the delimitation process was incomplete, the MC elections in Ludhiana were delayed. However, elections in three Municipal Corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala were held on December 17, in which Congress made a clean sweep in these elections.

Despite repeated attempts, MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh was not available for comment.

Delimitation biased, says Bains 

Calling the delimitation process biased, LIP MLA from Atam Nagar constituency, Simarjeet Singh Bains alleged that the delimitation has been done as per the instructions of the Congress leaders. The rules for delimitation process have been violated as wards were not formed as per the population. He said the population of Ludhiana South constituency, from where Balwinder Singh Bains was elected MLA, is higher than the population of Ludhiana East constituency, where the MLA is from the Congress party. “There are only 10 wards in South constituency, but 19 wards in Ludhiana East. The delimitation was conducted in an illegal manner. Those wards have been reserved for SC where population of general category is high. We will file objections in this regard. If required, we will move the court,” he said.

Democracy being murdered: SAD

President of SAD Ludhiana (urban), Ranjit Singh Dhillon alleged that the delimitation of wards has been done in a wrongful manner. “Democracy is being murdered in the state. Earlier, the Congress leaders murdered democracy in the MC elections at other places. Now, they are doing the same here. We will file objections against the delimitation of wards as norms have been violated. The wards, where a majority of population is of the general category, have been reserved for the SC category.”

Will move court: AAP

President of AAP Ludhiana (urban) Daljeet Singh Bhola said: “The notification was released on Thursday (Dec 21). The map of wards after new delimitation has not been displayed at the MC offices. The offices will remain closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Christmas). Only seven days have been given for filing objections. Even they have divided several colonies into two wards. We will file objections and also move court.” 

Congress denies allegations, says delimitation done as per population of wards

Congress MLA from Ludhiana East Constituency Sanjay Talwar denied all allegations. “The population of Ludhiana East is higher than Ludhiana South. There are 1.90 lakh voters in Ludhiana East constituency, whereas there are only 1.47 lakh voters in Ludhiana South constituency. The delimitation of wards has been done as per the population of wards.” “Earlier, SAD-BJP had done delimitation of wards in a wrong manner as voters in some wards were above 30,000, while some other wards had nearly around 5,000 voters. The new delimitation of wards has been done in a rightful manner and as per norms,” said Talwar.