16.80 lakh electors to seal fate of 22 candidates in fray

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 18

The fate of 22 candidates contesting for Ludhiana parliamentary seat would be sealed by 16.80 lakh voters on Sunday.

Many candidates had been campaigning for more than past one month, making appeals to get support of voters. As election campaign ended on Friday, several candidates conducted indoor meetings on Saturday and held meetings with party workers, as per information.

However, some candidates shared posts to make appeal to voters on their Facebook page or profile on Saturday, too. An official said candidates can’t share any post without getting certified from the district Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). Sources said some candidates were also served notices for sharing posts on their Facebook pages on Saturday.

Notably, candidates of various political parties, including Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Lok Insaaf Party and Aam Aadmi Party, have been campaigning by organising meetings, roadshows and using social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.

There are many issues, including unemployment, corruption, poor health services, inflation and pollution among others that are on the mind of voters. Besides, voters also talk about local issues, including highly polluted Buddha Nullah, overflowing sewers, uncovered garbage dumps, traffic snarls, lack of parking arrangements and poor condition of roads among others.

“It is time to choose the right candidate for the betterment of Ludhiana. There is a dire need to improve health services and education system here. We want that the MP should pay equal attention towards the early redressal of local issues. There are many issues that have not been addressed from a long time. Every voter should come forward to cast his/her vote,” said Satinderpal Singh of BRS Nagar.

In Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, comprising Ludhiana East, West, North, South, Central, Atam Nagar, Gill, Dakha and Jagraon Assembly constituencies, as many as 18 candidates are contesting from different political parties, while four are contesting as Independents. Though the elections are to be held on Sunday, unauthorised posters of political parties have not been removed from various locations.