Farmers Movement Archive

All set for counting of votes today

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, February 16As counting of votes for the civic body poll held on February 14 will commence today at 9 am, leaders of ruling Congress seemed somewhat more confident of making it this time. However, they were wary of some wards where candidates of all other parties, including Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), besides Independents were in the fray.In Jalandhar, the fact that only 59 per cent of the seats (65 out of 110 wards) were contested by Congress on its symbol has somehow reflected that its leaders were not able to impress upon the candidates to contest on party’s name. Not a single symbol of Congress was taken in Adampur, Alawalpur and Nurmahal.Saffron outfit on sticky wicketThe BJP, which was throughout seen on a sticky wicket, had just 17 candidates from eight local bodies from Jalandhar, none from Kartarpur, Lohian and Mehatpur.A prominent BJP leader said, “Our party has nothing to lose as we got only a few months to work on individual identity. The MC elections are actually a litmus test for Congress, AAP and Akalis, who are backing farmers against the agri bills.” Like most leaders of his party, BJP spokesperson Monty Sehgal said, “We were not allowed to campaign or even open our offices. We still fail to understand as to what kind of election it was. The funniest part was that Congress was seen backing Independents while remaining in power.”Litmus test for AAP, SADThe result of elections, however, would be a report card for Aam Aadmi Party, which saw its bubble bursting in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Jalandhar. The party had the maximum number of contestants from its symbol fighting on as many as 72 wards. The party had changed its local leadership and made many changes ahead of the election. Its Delhi-based leaders also campaigned quite actively ahead of polling.Akali leaders were also not shunning their confidence. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, SAD leader from Nakodar, said, “Even though it was a very nasty conduct of elections by Congress, we are confident of making it to halfway mark on both seats of my constituency – Nakodar and Nurmahal, where we will form our councils.” SAD-backed candidates, however, had not taken party symbol in even a single ward of either of the two MCs.“It was our well-calculated strategy. Our 16 out of 17 candidates in Nakodar fought the election on ‘tractor’ symbol and one got ‘letter box’. In Nurmahal, our 12 out of 13 candidates got ‘table’ as symbol and one took ‘bat and ball’. So, it will be pretty obvious and we expect the scene to be clear by 10 am. I will be making it to the counting centre myself to oversee the process,” said Wadala.In contrast, Congress fielded as many as 15 candidates on party symbol from 17 seats of Nakodar, but none in Nurmahal.Close fight in AdampurIn Adampur, election was fought fiercely between Darshan Karwal-led Congress-supported group and Pawan Tinu-supported group. While Congress did not take any party symbol in Adampur and Alawalpur, Akalis had five candidates on party symbol ‘scales’ and eight on ‘table’.In Adampur, the entire Karwal group contested on ‘tractor’ symbol. Pawan Tinu said, “Our rivals tried to scare our candidates by indulging in violence. Our candidate’s husband faced a murderous attack three days ahead of voting and got discharged yesterday. Still, we are hopeful of making it. Even if we win seven of 13 seats in Adampur, it will be our council. I being an MLA have a vote in it. Our rivals need to make it to at least eight, which will not be that easy for them. Rest, a few hours are left and things will get clear.”A sweetshop owner in Adampur said, “We are making laddoos in huge quantity for tomorrow. Whatever be the results, our laddoos will be sold.”A day before polls, Kartarpur Congress MLA was all smiles, “I already have one uncontested winner. Even in the remaining 14 wards, there are no SAD or BJP contestants on symbol.”Heavy security outside strongrooms

The Tribune

2021-02-17