SAD, Congress banking on village groupism
Wednesday, 15/05/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130515/punjab.htm#1
Tarn Taran : With virtually no major issues to highlight, the SAD and Congress bigwigs are banking on political groupism in rural areas to win elections in the 17 zila parishad and 145 block samiti zones of this border district.
Assembly constituency leaders are shuttling between villages to garner support for their party candidates. The general public seems indifferent but is not averse to attending liquor parties. “These parties are being organised by those who want to contest the panchayat elections. In a way, they are assessing their support base before the elections,” said a political leader from Tarn Taran.
Akali candidates have been elected unopposed in four zila parishad zones — Palasaur, Jhabal, Khadoor Sahib and Pakhoke. The Congress has not fielded its candidates from Khadoor Sahib and Pakhoke. The two zones are in the Khadoor Sahib Assembly constituency from where first-timer Congress candidate Ramanjit Singh Sikki had defeated SAD stalwart Ranjit Singh Brahmpura.
Jhabal and Palasaur fall in the Tarn Taran constituency represented by SAD legislator Harmit Singh Sandhu. Congress candidate from Jhabal Amandeep Kaur had withdrawn her nomination papers, paving the way for SAD candidate’s election.
The People’s Party of Punjab has fielded a candidate from the Sursingh zone in the Valtoha constituency. The fight here is between SAD candidate Jaspal Kaur and PPP’s Amarjit Kaur. The Congress has not fielded a candidate here.
The Congress is supporting the PPP in Sursingh while the latter is supporting the Congress candidates in Valtoha.
Grass-roots facts
- Akali candidates elected unopposed in Palasaur, Jhabal, Khadoor Sahib and Pakhoke zones
- Congress has not fielded candidates in Khadoor Sahib, Pakhoke
- These zones are in the Khadoor Sahib assembly seat from where Congress' Sikki had defeated Akali stalwart Brahmpura
- Congress candidate from Jhabal Amandeep Kaur withdrew her papers, paving the way for SAD candidate's election
- The fight in the Sursingh zone in the Valtoha constituency is between SAD's Jaspal Kaur and PPP's Amarjit Kaur; the Congress has not fielded a candidate here
- The Congress is backing the PPP in Sursingh and the latter is supporting the Cong in Valtoha
