Supporters mobilise voters from satellite towns

With the Ludhiana West Assembly by-elections fast approaching, supporters of various candidates have intensified efforts to rally votes. They are reaching out to friends and relatives residing on the outskirts of Ludhiana or in satellite towns, urging them to back their respective leaders.

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Some families readily pledged their support, assuring their relatives in the constituency of their allegiance, while others merely went through the motions, making perfunctory phone calls without genuine commitment.

Prince Sharma, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, revealed that Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s election office provided him with a list of locals whose relatives lived within the Ludhiana West constituency. “While some families told us their relatives were already supporting Ashu, others assured us they would visit Ludhiana to show solidarity,” said Sharma.

Mehar Chand Shastari, a retired teacher from Green Avenue, instructed his son, Ninda Bhaskar, to accompany AAP legislator Ashok Prashar Pappi during the campaign for candidate Sanjeev Arora. “Since Pappi Prashar and Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar are my nephews, our family will always stand by them, regardless of political affiliation,” said Shastari.

Similarly, veteran social activist Ramesh Chand Ghaie confirmed he had been approached by supporters of BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta. They urged him to leverage local contacts to rally votes in favour of Gupta, he said.

Councillor Mani Sekha shared that his father, Baljit Sekha, received multiple calls from SAD candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman’s supporters, asking him to persuade his family and friends. “As a traditional Akali family, we don’t mind seeking votes for Ghuman,” said Sekha.