As canvassing ends, nominees go all out to woo Karnal residents

On the last day of the campaigning ahead of the Karnal Municipal Corporation elections scheduled on March 2, candidates made all-out efforts to reach out to the voters.

BJP mayoral candidate Renu Bala Gupta and Congress nominee Manoj Wadhwa and others made efforts to garner support through door-to-door and public meetings.

Gupta focused on nukkad meetings and attended nearly 15 gatherings on the last day, urging people to vote for the BJP’s candidates. Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand accompanied her in several programmes and campaigned separately in the city. Gupta’s husband, Brij Gupta, attended nearly five different meetings.

Additionally, BJP general secretary Archana Gupta and district MC election in-charge, former Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, held a meeting with party workers, including ward prabharis (ward conveners), tridevs, shakti kendra heads, polling agents and candidates exhorting them to ensure voter turnout by bringing residents from their homes to polling stations.

Confident of victory, BJP mayoral candidate Gupta and MLA Anand said Karnal residents would vote for ‘triple-engine’ government as it would accelerate the city’s development. “The people of Karnal have supported us for the past 10 years. We are confident they will bless me with a massive victory,” said Gupta.

Anand asserted that the BJP faced no real competition. “I am seeking votes based on the work I have done since being elected as an MLA. I am hopeful that people will not disappoint me and will elect the party’s mayoral candidate and all 18 councillor candidates,” he added.

On the other hand, Congress mayoral candidate Wadhwa held door-to-door meetings in different parts of the city. His wife, Asha Wadhwa, also actively participated in outreach efforts. Wadhwa organised an open debate to highlight key issues and expressed confidence in his victory.

“I am confident that the people of Karnal will elect me as they are fed up with the current government,” said Wadhwa. He promised to launch the ‘Mayor Aapke Dwar’ initiative, under which he would regularly visit wards and remain directly connected with the residents to address their concerns.

Wadhwa also vowed to end corruption in the MC and ensure transparent administration. He assured residents that he would tackle the menace of stray dogs and monkeys, improve roads and strengthen drainage network.

Accusing the BJP government of failing to regularise unauthorised colonies despite repeated promises, Wadhwa pledged to provide all civic amenities in these areas.

Former MLA Sumita Singh also expressed confidence that the Congress would win the mayoral seat. Former MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi added that people of Karnal would vote for change in civic body poll.