SAD’s Ayali throws hat in ring

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, September 27

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali (44) filed his nomination papers to contest the Dakha bypoll on Friday. Senior Akali leader and former Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was present when Ayali filed his papers for the byelection at the SDM office.

After filing his nomination papers, former MLA Ayali said major development works were carried out in the Dakha constituency and basic amenities were ensured during the rule of the SAD-BJP government in the state.

Not a single development work was started in the constituency since the Congress government came into power in 2017, added Ayali. “Ravneet Singh Bittu has been elected Member of Parliament twice, but has not brought any project for the Dakha constituency. Before byelection people were expecting development works to be undertaken, but they were disappointed by the Congress government,” Ayali said.

“People from all walks of life are unhappy with the ruling Congress in the state,” Ayali added. Notably, Ayali had got 72,208 votes and registered win from the Dakha constituency in 2012. He lost the election with margin of 4,169 votes from AAP leader HS Phoolka in 2017. Phoolka got 58,923 votes while Ayali garnered 54,754 votes in the 2017 Assembly poll. Besides, Ayali had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Ludhiana in 2014. As Phoolka later resigned from seat, byelection would be held for Dakha constituency October 21.

Majithia hits out at Congress government

Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia slammed the Congress government for failing to fulfil promises, made with people before the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections. He said the Congress government and those who had released the manifesto should be booked for not fulfilling poll promises.

Candidate profile – Manpreet Singh Ayali

• Manpreet Singh Ayali (44) is married and father of two sons. He and his wife have Rs 1.4 lakh and Rs 70,000 cash, respectively, in hand. He passed BA (First year) from Government College, Ludhiana, as per his affidavit. 
• Total assets (with spouse):  Rs 24.31 crore
• Moveable: Rs 3.65 crore 
• Immovable: Rs 20.66 crore
• Ayali and his wife have 780 gm of gold worth Rs 22.2 lakh. Ayali owns Toyata Fortuner (SUV). 
• Ayali has shared agricultural land, commercial and residential properties at different locations as per the affidavit.
• Ayali is a partner in M/s PPR Associates II, PPR Construction, Nirmaan Builders and Developers and director in M/s Ayali Developers and Colonizers Pvt Ltd.