Two file nominations on Day 1

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 22

Two candidates filed their nomination papers for the Ludhiana seat on the first day today. Baldev Raj Katna (64) has filed his papers as a candidate of the Nationalist Justice Party (NJP) and Jai Parkash Jain as an Independent.

Katna is a retired senior executive engineer from the Punjab State Electricity Board. He has a Masters in Engineering (Electrical), according to his affidavit.

After filing his nomination, Katna said: “My aim is to eliminate the corrupt system. I want to fight for the rights of the people. I will raise issues facing poor people. Money is not everything. I am against distribution of liquor, drugs and money during polls. I will contest elections by following the law and with simplicity. The people should be aware of their rights,” he said.

Katna, who lives at BRS Nagar, said he had also been raising issues such as corruption in government departments. Besides, he had also unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections from Ludhiana West in 2017.

Jain bats for legalising cultivation of poppy in the state

Jai Parkash Jain (40) is popularly known as Teetu Baniya. He is a comedy artiste-cum-shopkeeper. He filed his nomination as an Independent. He has done matriculation.

After filing his nomination, a garland made from ‘khas khas’ (poppy seed) was put on him by some persons. Jain said he had repeatedly demanded from the government that poppy cultivation should be allowed in the state.

“Youngsters are dying doing synthetic drugs. The farmers should be allowed to grow poppy in their fields to save them from losses as well as the youth from synthetic drugs. By legalising poppy cultivation in the state, opium and poppy husk can be prepared here only,” he said.

Jain, a resident of Mullanpur-Dakha, said: “I am unhappy with the successive governments as they have done nothing for the past 70 years. Choked drains and broken streets are still major issues. Development was always ignored. Thus, I am contesting this election to bring about reforms.”

Jain also urged the Election Commission to issue poll symbols to Independent candidates at the earliest so that they could run their campaigns in the right manner. “Gunmen may be provided later but symbols should be allotted now. The registered political parties are already campaigning with the allotted symbols,” he said.

Jain claimed to have written to the Election Commissioner in this regard. He said he had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. He runs a shop of water purifiers at Mullanpur-Dakha.

Nominations can be filed till April 29

• District Election Officer Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said the filing of nomination papers would continue till April 29. The scrutiny of nominations would be done on April 30, and the last date of withdrawal of candidature would be May 2.
• Nominations can be filed in the office of Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer situated in the District Administrative Complex, Ludhiana, from 11 am to 3 pm from April 22-29, excluding April 27 (Saturday) and April 28 (Sunday).
• Agrawal suggested candidates could also pay their security fee in advance to save them last-minute hassle. The security fee can be paid in the office of Rajan Dhall, Election Kanugo, at Room Number 116, first floor, Tehsildar Elections Office, District Administrative Complex, from 9 am to 5 pm on any working day. He said this security fee could also be paid by the candidates on the spot (at the time of filing nominations).
• Besides, for getting a certified copy of voter lists, the candidates should apply at Room Number 123, first floor, Tehsildar Elections Office, District Administrative Complex, from 9 to 5 on any working day. He urged all candidates to complete the necessary formalities in advance.