Candidates promise jobs to voters; campaigning picks up in Ambala

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, December 20

With the election campaign at its peak, all parties and mayoral candidates are working in full swing to woo voters. They have come out with different poll promises, including installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras, 2,000 jobs, improving drainage system, new community centres, vertical gardens, and beautification of Ambala city.

In its “vachan patra”, the Congress has made 17 promises, including ending NOC system, contractual system in corporation, constructing multilevel parking, regularising illegal colonies, making Ambala stray animal-free, installing 5,000 CCTV cameras and improving the drainage system.

Congress candidate Meena Aggarwal said: “Corrupt practices are rampant in the corporation and our priority would be to eradicate corruption, bring transparency and provide hassle-free services to the residents. The sanitation condition in city is very bad and we aim at making Ambala beautiful and clean.”

The BJP is yet to release its manifesto, but its mayoral candidate Dr Vandana Sharma has been promising scientific disposal of garbage, improved drainage system, vertical gardens, skill programme centre for youth, child home and beautification of Ambala city.

Sharma said: “We are reaching out to people with the agenda of development. Our aim is to provide all facilities and hassle-free services to people of Ambala. There is BJP government at the Centre and the state, and the MP and the MLA of Ambala city also belong to the BJP. We have been appealing to voters to elect the BJP candidates in wards as well as for the post of mayor to ensure smooth development.”

Former minister Nirmal Singh-led Haryana Democratic Front (HDF) is also promising slash in house tax rates, public toilets, CCTV cameras at sensitive places, beautification, online portal for resolving grievances, doorstep delivery of services, and scientific disposal of garbage.

HDF general secretary Chitra Sarwara said: “We have been appealing to voters to help the HDF in making the corporation corruption-free and transparent. Our aim is to make Ambala green and clean, while providing all services to the residents in a smooth manner. We will release our manifesto on Monday.”

The Haryana Jan Chetna Party (V) is promising 2,000 jobs in the MC besides making Ambala livable. Its mayoral candidate Shaktirani Sharma said: “City residents have many complaints and they have been witnessing problems, including poor sanitation, poor lighting, and unemployment for the past few years. The budget of corporation has been misused by some people due to which neither the city was developed nor basic facilities were provided to people. We will ensure that residents are not harassed in the name of NOCs and all 20 wards are equally developed.”