Tarn Taran: Akali Dal, BJP at daggers drawn

Perneet Singh

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Tribune News Service

Tarn Taran, February 22

Three local bodies are going to the polls in this district, hogging the limelight for a bitter contest between the ruling alliance partners Akali Dal and BJP. 

Their alliance is only intact in Patti Nagar council while both are going it alone in Tarn Taran nagar council and Bhikhiwind nagar panchayat. All the polling booths in the district have been declared senstitive.

Tarn Taran council

Wards: 23; candidates: 86; voters: 52,212; polling booths: 48 (all sensitive) 

Key issues: There is a lack of basic amenities, illegal encroachments and drug abuse. Though having a population of 66,729, the town lacks water treatment and solid waste management plants, a fire brigade and parking lots too. Pollution due to dumping of industrial and domestic waste in Kasur Nullah is also an issue.

Political scenario: The contest has virtually turned into a battle between the Akalis led by MLA Harmeet Singh Sandhu and the BJP led by Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi. The SAD is contesting 23 wards and the BJP 19. The Congress is contesting only 11 wards. 

Patti 

Wards: 19; candidates: 37; voters: 31,981; Polling booths: 38 (all sensitive)

Key issues: Poor roads, drinking water crisis, incomplete sewerage system and drug abuse. 

Roads are in a bad shape in commercial areas around the bus stand; streets in residential areas are also broken. There is rampant illegal encroachment and traffic chaos.  The sewerage work that began two years ago is nowhere near completion. The potable water facility is inadequate. The town doesn't have a regular SDM and the Nagar Council operates from a rented accommodation.

Political scenario: Patti is the Assembly constituency of Cabinet Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon. There is a straight fight between the Akali Dal and the Congress. The BJP has not fielded its candidates here. The SAD has an upper hand. Its five candidates have already been elected unopposed. 

Bhikiwind nagar panchayat

Wards: 13; voters: 9,009; candidates: 41; polling booths: 13 (all sentitive)

Key issues: Lack of basic amenities, unplanned development, drug abuse and lack of sewerage facility and streetlights.

Political scenario: The town is witnessing a fierce clash between the Akali Dal and the Congress in at least 11 wards, although the BJP too has fielded its candidates from six wards. Here too the Akali Dal candidates have an edge. Two of them have already been elected unopposed.