Ambala Cantt to witness triangular contest

The Ambala Cantonment Assembly segment is set to witness a triangular corner contest with Congress rebel and Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara posing a challenge for BJP leader and former Home Minister Anil Vij, who is eyeing fourth consecutive win, and Congress Candidate Parvinder Singh.

Even in the 2019 Assembly elections, after the Congress denied party ticket, Chitra contested as Independent and stood runner-up with over 44,400 votes against Vij. Congress candidate Venu Singla secured the third spot.

This time, Chitra Sarwara, daughter of Congress leader Nirmal Singh who is contesting on Congress ticket from Ambala City, was confident of getting the party ticket, but after the party fielded Parvinder Singh, a loyalist of Kumari Selja, she decided to contest as Independent candidate.

After opening her election office today, she said “As an Independent candidate, I have been getting support from all sections of the society. While the government claims that over Rs 3,000 crore has been spent on the development of Ambala Cantonment, things at the ground level haven’t changed. The drainage system and roads are in poor condition. The local industry and residents are struggling. We have been raising the voice of people of Ambala and we will fulfil the expectations of the people.”

Congress Candidate Parvinder Singh, who is holding public meetings to strengthen his position, said “Both the leaders (Himmat Singh and Jasbir Mallour) withdrew their nominations in support of party candidate (Nirmal Singh) in Ambala City, and the same thing should have happened in Ambala Cantonment too, but it didn’t happen. The matter is in the knowledge of the party high command and I am hopeful that the party will take appropriate action in this matter. The Congressmen have got united under the party’s banner and I am getting full support from the party workers. There is a contest between BJP and the Congress. I am confident that the people of Ambala will extend their support to Congress.” Meanwhile, Anil Vij said: “People have elected me six times on the basis of the work done and I am confident they will elect me for the seventh time too.”