Elaborate security in place in Mohali, Dera Bassi

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 18

The stage is all set for contest among 26 candidates, including Manish Tewari (senior Congress leader), Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD-BJP), Narinder Singh Shergill (Aam Aadmi Party) and Bir Devinder Singh (candidate of newly formed SAD-Taksali) for the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat.

While Chandumajra has been banking upon his achievements as the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) of the constituency and Narendra Modi’s credibility to repeat his win, Tewari is hopeful of his victory claiming that the people here were upset as there was no major development in the area.

Former Deputy Speaker of Punjab, Bir Devinder Singh, claimed that the people would cast their votes in his favour as they wanted to get rid of both the Congress and the BJP-Akali Dal combine. Bir Devinder, who termed the Anadpur Lok Sabha as ‘Panthic’ seat, is also hopeful of getting votes on the Bargari issue and other sacrilege incidents in recent past.

AAP candidate Narinder Singh Shergill claimed that the party’s agenda with regard to anti-corruption and development works would help him win people’s hearts this time.

It is to be noted that in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Chandumajra had emerged winner by garnering 3.47 lakh votes, which was 32 per cent of the total 10.87 lakh voter turnout in the constituency whereas Congress candidate Ambika Soni got 3.23 lakh votes (30 per cent) and the AAP candidate, Himmat Singh Shergill, managed to get 3.08 lakh votes (29 per cent).

In 2014, the constituency had witnessed 69.81 per cent voter turnout. I all, 749 polling stations have been set up in the three segments – Kharar, Mohali and Dera Bassi – in the district. As per Mohali Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Gurpreet Kaur Sapra all arrangements were in place for tomorrow’s election.