Constituency profile: Anandpur Sahib

Major projects cry for attention

Arun Sharma

Residents of the constituency — the birthplace of Khalsa — have not seen any drastic change as all major projects inititated during the last regime could not be completed till now. The underconstruction railway over-bridge and a bridge on the Sutlej at Nangal since 2017 cause frequent traffic jams.

The seven-decade-old demand of Nangal residents to have ownership rights on land with them on lease from BBMB remains pending despite their several protests and memorandum.

A lift irrigation scheme to provide water to farmers of nearly two dozen villages in the Changar area was launched three years ago on January 24, 2019, by former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The Rs 100 crore scheme was to be completed in nine phases within three years. Till now, the water could be release to mere two villages that also just recently.

The channelisation of Swan river to protect villages in Anandpur Sahib and the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project, which could have given a major fillip to tourism in the area, has been on the backburner for the past five years. Truck operators, who depended on work from National Fertilisers Limited and Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited, have been rendered jobless since the dissolution of truck unions.

Past Trend

The constituency, known as Nangal until 2007 Assembly polls, has primarily seen the contest between the Congress and BJP. Both parties have fielded Rana KP Singh and Madan Mohan Mittal since 2002, barring 2017 when the BJP dropped the latter. Sitting MLA and Speaker Rana KP has won elections in 2002, 2007 and 2017.

Electorate Strength

TOTAL VOTES

1,89,455

MALE

98,906

FEMALE

90,544

THIRD GENDER

5

HOW IT VOTED IN 2017 ELECTIONS

Result

Won Rana KP Singh Congress 60,800

Lost Dr Parminder Sharma BJP 36,919

LOCALS’ KEY DEMANDS

Ownership of leasehold BBMB land

Completion of ROB at Nangal

Lift irrigation scheme

Naina Devi ropeway