Moga: It is Independents versus SAD-BJP candidates in most of the 50 wards of the the Moga corporation, thanks to infighting between local MLA Joginder Pal Jain and Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh.
The Congress has taken the backseat, putting up only 31 candidates in alliance with the PPP, which is fighting on just one seat.
Observers say the Independents are set to spoil the chances of Akali candidates. The tough fight being given by the rebels may throw up many a surprise when the city goes to polls on February 22.
As the poll campaign comes to an end on February 20, tensions among the candidates is rising. Intelligence reports suggest that there may be violence during polling.
So far, no political party has released its manifesto. The candidates are mainly depending on people’s goodwill. Dwarka Bansal, chairman of the Senior Citizens’ Council, said no party or candidate was talking about key issues such as sanitation, public health, development of villages, traffic woes, encroachments, stray cattle and poor condition of roads.
Local MLA Jain is focusing on his son Akshit, who is fighting from Ward No. 35, and his loyalists. Akshit is a prominent candidate for the Mayor’s post. The BJP is fighting in 17 wards all by itself with no senior Akali leader campaigning for the party. The BJP is solely banking on the party cadre and the reputation of former DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, who recently joined the saffron party.
Source: The Tribune