Only BJP fields candidate on party symbol in Ambala

While four people are in fray for the post of chairperson of the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, only the BJP has fielded its candidate on the party symbol.

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While the BJP has fielded Swaran Kaur, three others, including Manpreet Kaur, Ravnit Kaur and Mandeep Kaur have filed their nominations as Independent candidates.

Though the Congress party had also sought applications from the interested candidates for the chairperson’s election, no candidate was fielded on the party symbol.

Unhappy with the absence of party’s symbol in the election, a local Congress leader said, “Due to the absence of the party organisation and lack of senior leadership in Ambala Sadar, the morale of the party workers is going down. Even after the poor performance in the recent Assembly election, the party did nothing to improve the situation and as a result the party failed to find strong candidates to be fielded on the party symbol. Though personal image and contacts of the candidate play a major role in the civic body election, the presence of the party’s symbol and organisation gives a strong platform to the candidate.”

Onkarnath Paruthi, a former general secretary of grievance cell of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, said “The party should have fielded its candidates on the party symbol as it would have given them the much needed boost. Due to lack of backing from the high command and lack of interest shown by the local-level leaders, the candidates were in a state of dilemma and they preferred contesting without a symbol. A couple of candidates belong to the Congress background but they are contesting as Independent candidates.”

Meanwhile, Ashok Jain, Congress party convenor for the council election in Ambala Cantonment, said “The party had given the option of contesting the election on symbol or without symbol, and a majority of the candidates preferred to contest without symbol. The party will extend its support to the candidates who belong to the Congress, after the withdrawal process is completed and contest the election strongly.”

Similarly, the Indian National Lok Dal has not fielded its candidate on the party symbol.

INLD leader Onkar Singh said, “The party has not fielded its candidate for the post of chairperson but the party will extend support to the Independent candidate. We are in discussion with the Independent candidates, soon we will make the announcement and start campaigning for the candidate. The party will strongly raise the local issues in the civic body election.”