Constituency profile: Ludhiana west

Unplanned projects trouble residents

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Manav Mander

Many developmental works are being carried in the areas falling under the constituency, but the problem is all these were started at almost same time, leading to traffic jams and congestion in most areas.

Traffic on Ferozepur Road, Pakhowal Road, Sarbha Nagar and BRS Nagar is disrupted as projects were not planned properly and started in a phased manner.

Besides, people are finding some of the works carried under the Smart City Project a mere wastage of money. Residents of posh localities like Sarabha Nagar and BRS Nagar complain of fixing interlocking tiles and granite or cement blocks within a metre of the radius of existing trees. Revamp of Sarabha Nagar market is also seen as a waste of funds by residents.

Jagmeet Singh, a resident of BRS Nagar, said the government was fooling people in the name of development. “Some parks which were in already good condition were revamped unnecessarily,” he said. Similarly, tiles, which were already in good condition, were changed on Malhar Road.

Residents of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar often complain of water contamination in the locality. Construction of a railyway underbridge is blamed for the same. In addition to this, a large garbage dump near Sunet Railway Crossing is an eye sore for the area residents.

Old bazars like Ghumar Mandi are without parking facility. Ghumar Mandi is one of the busiest bazars in the city but it is without parking facility.

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Past Trend

Cabinet Minister and MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu wields considerable influence in the constituency as he registered two straight winds in 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections. He remained a councillor for three terms from 1997-2002, 2002-2007 and 2007-2012. In 2007 and 1997, the seat was with Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harish Rai Dhanda and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, respectively.

Electorate strength

Total Voters: 1,78,290

Male: 92,333

Female: 85,946

Third Gender: 11

HOW IT VOTED IN 2017 ELECTIONS:

Won Bharat Bhushan Ashu Cong 66,627

Lost Ahbaab Grewal AAP 30,106

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LOCALS’ KEY DEMANDS:

Solution to traffic jams

Shifting of garbage dump

Clean water supply

Parking facility in bazars