BJP, Cong, Independents prepare for fierce battle in Ambala Sadar polls

With the long-pending Municipal Council Ambala Sadar elections approaching, political parties and Independent candidates have ramped up their preparations.

Advertisement

Key issues

BJP: Government’s achievements in the first 100 days

Congress: No-dues certificates, incomplete projects, corruption, sanitation

Chitra Sarwara’s Independent camp: Regularisation of colonies, drainage, transparency in governance

The previous council’s term ended in July 2018, and in 2019, the Municipal Corporation was bifurcated into Ambala Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council Ambala Sadar. Now, as elections near, key players — BJP, Congress and Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara — are gearing up for a fierce contest.

The BJP remains confident of a strong performance, while Congress and Chitra Sarwara, who finished runner-up in the last Assembly election as an Independent candidate, are determined to challenge the ruling party.

Chitra Sarwara, who has formed an 11-member coordination committee, said: "Like the previous Assembly elections, we are going to contest the municipal council election strongly and field Independent candidates in all 32 wards and for the post of chairperson. A coordination committee has been set up and people are approaching us with applications. Some BJP members are also in touch with us. Soon, we will announce our candidates. We will focus on issues like the regularisation of colonies, garbage, sewerage, drainage and roads. Our goal is to bring transparency to the council and make it friendlier for women and the elderly."

Congress leader Sudhir Jaiswal, co-convener for the MC election in Ambala Sadar, said: "We have started taking applications from aspirants. Party workers and leaders have been asked to visit their respective wards and strengthen the party’s base. A strategy meeting was recently held and another will be organised soon. Congress will raise issues like no-dues certificates, poor roads, incomplete projects, drains, sanitation, corruption and family ID during the campaign."

However, internal party unity remains a concern for Congress. Efforts are being made to reunite party workers who had supported Chitra Sarwara in the last Assembly election, but challenges persist.

A Congress leader, who attended a recent meeting, said on condition of anonymity: "The party’s performance in the recent Assembly polls was not strong. While local leaders are discussing reconnecting with old workers and conducting door-to-door campaigns, the groundwork has yet to begin. So far, individual candidates have been making efforts at their own level."

Meanwhile, Haryana Cabinet Minister Anil Vij expressed confidence in BJP’s chances, saying, "The party organisation is ready and we will contest strongly to win the election. I will hold a meeting with party workers on Saturday and candidates will be announced soon. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will be the party’s face in the election and we will highlight the work done by the government, especially in its first 100 days."