Parties in upbeat mood for MC poll

All major political parties are in a upbeat mood for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections. Screening committees have been formed and a survey regarding candidates is going on but the final list by all parties will be declared only once the date for the elections will be announced by the government.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had received nearly 300 applications from party workers interested in fighting the elections.

Sharanpal Singh Makkar, district president of AAP, said the meeting of the screening committee was held recently at Chandigarh and the names were shortlisted. “The survey regarding the shortlisted candidates is going on and after the same, the final list will be prepared,” said Makkar.

He said the final candidates would be announced after the declaration of the date of elections, which will be done in a day or two.

The BJP has received nearly 500 applications from those interested in fighting the MC elections.

Rajneesh Dhiman, district BJP chief, said they were ready for the MC elections and only waiting for the government to announce the date for the poll.

“We will finalise the candidates only after the date is announced. The government has been delaying the elections purposely and in case these were delayed yet again, there is no point in announcing the names,” said Dhiman.

He said whether the elections were being done according to the old ward delimitation or new, the BJP was ready as AAP had done new ward delimitation according to its own choice. Hence, they should also be ready for the fight.

A meeting of the screening committee of the Indian National Congress was held here on Saturday, which was attended by probable candidates who had submitted their names.

“Interviews were held of those who had submitted their names and after Saturday’s meetings, we are planning to final the list of the candidates by December 11. The Congress has received over 250 applications,” said Sanjay Talwar, president of the District Congress Committee.

Public opinion will be sought before finalising the names and we have received more than one name from each ward. We are ready for the elections and waiting for the date to be announced. We are confident to form the MC House and the next Mayor of Ludhiana will be from the Congress,” Talwar said.