Return of leaders after bypoll campaign brings relief for residents

Residents of the town and surrounding localities falling under Ludhiana and Malerkotla districts heaved a sigh of relief that their leaders would now return home after campaigning for the candidates of their respective parties in Ludhiana (West) bypoll on Tuesday evening.

Having been put off by elected leaders on the pretext of their preoccupation with the bypoll campaign, those requiring their assistance in getting official works done now see a rope of hope for the resolution of their problems.

“We are glad that the District Election Officer at Ludhiana has advised Flying Squad Teams and Static Surveillance Teams to ensure that no outsider is allowed to stay in Ludhiana (West) assembly area after the end of campaign on Tuesday at 6 pm,” said a group of residents who required signatures of their councillors for getting registration of births and deaths done at the civic body office.

On Monday, General Observer Rajeev Kumar, Police Observer Surinder Pal and District Election Officer Himanshu Jain had announced stringent measures to ensure strict compliance of guidelines of the Election Commission till the election process is over.

It was announced that effective from 6 pm on June 17, until the completion of polling on June 19, individuals who are not registered voters of the Ludhiana West assembly segment, are involved in the election process, or hold leadership positions in political parties, are prohibited from staying within the constituency.

Almost during every by-election, leaders of various political parties including legislators, councillors and sarpanches become unavailable for local residents as they usually show their presence during campaigning for their respective candidates.

Elected representatives owing allegiance to the party in power at the time of by-election are missed badly as their services are required, both at their native place and the segment undergoing election.

Though women councillors and sarpanches had tried to compensate the unavailability of male leaders, there are several spheres where only male leaders are almost indispensable.

The councillors led by president Vikas Krishan Sharma argued that they have taken care to ensure that residents don’t suffer due to involvement in election campaign at Ludhiana West segment.

“However, we will now be available for expediting process for the resolution of problems faced by residents in our absence,” said Sharma.