Know your Councillor

In the municipal council poll held recently, several new faces have emerged, who will lead the people in their respective areas. Some of them have struggled very hard to make a mark. Jalandhar Tribune catches up with some councillors who are gearing up to serve the masses and stand for their voters for the next 5 years...

Joined politics to reach out to masses
Karan Mahajan (35), Ward No. 30., Jalandhar

A social worker, Karan Mahajan (35), won election as a councillor in his very first go. Elected from Ward No. 30 in his maiden attempt, he had been the urban Youth Congress President twice before. Jubilant at having won the elections, Mahajan also expressed his happiness over the fact that his son saw him becoming a councillor just as he turned 1. He started working for veteran politician and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh in 2007. Backed by Rana, he first became Kapurthala Youth Congress president of the city in 2007 and then again in 2014-15. "I was reluctant at first as I did not like politics much. But then I thought of reaching out to more people through politics," Karan says. Having extended his services during the Covid-19 lockdown and working across hospitals helping patients, he finally contested the elections as councillor of Ward No. 30. He now plans a slew of development projects for his ward. "Dilapidated roads, sanitation, sewerage, reduced water pressure in taps, streetlights etc. are the major issues which I plan to resolve. I would like to provide better facilities in my ward," says Karan.

Standing tall even in her dark hours
Sandeep Kaur (40), Ward No. 1, SAD, Sultanpur Lodhi

For Ward No.1 councillor Sandeep Kaur, politics is nothing new. She was brought up in such an atmosphere at Ahli Kalan village of Sultanpur Lodhi. Her father and grandfather have been sarpanches for years. The family she married into in 1996 also remained active in SGPC. Her husband Dilbagh Singh, who has dealership of Mahindra Tractors and owns huge property in the town, has supported several politicians in the past. So, when Sandeep Kaur was picked as the Akali face for councillor's election for her first tenure in 2016, she did not have to be trained in anything. "I stood out for everyone. Even when our party was no longer in power. We did not have to wait for grants to get the civic works done in our area. Since my ward encompasses the holy Gurdwara Ber Sahib, Gurdwara Sant Ghat and Gurdwara Sehra Sahib, my husband was always ready to contribute for such works from his own pocket. This helped us win for the second time," she said. But despite victory by a margin of over 300 votes, Sandeep says she could not celebrate it. "On the day of polling, my husband and his supporters were standing near the polling station as they had apprehensions of some unfair means. As 40-50 men tried to barge in around 4 pm, a clash took place and my husband was booked under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.”

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