Farmers Movement Archive

BJP contesting few seats, to face tough time in dist

CIVIC POLLSLudhiana: The wary BJP didn’t field candidates for local bodies elections in many municipal councils of Ludhiana, but wherever it has, the party may have to face a tough battle. BJP is not contesting in Raikot, Payal and Samrala municipal councils’ elections, but has fielded 31 candidates in 33 wards of Khanna MC, 10 in 23 wards of Jagraon MC and four in 15 wards of Doraha council.“We will give a jhatka (shock) to the BJP in these elections. It is because of our strength that they didn’t even field candidates in many MCs. We are taking out motorcycle rallies from Sunday. BJP candidates, wherever they are contesting, will flee. Their members are already leaving the party,” said Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Punjab, president Rajinder Benipal. The farmers’ organisations are sore with the BJP as the Union government has so far failed to repeal the “anti-farming laws”. “Wherever they have fielded candidates, we will oppose them. We will tell voters not to let them win. In Jagraon, they will face a stiff opposition,” said Inderjit Singh, block president of BKU, Dakonda.Gurpreet Singh of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) said people of Punjab were also against the BJP. “Many of them are leaving the party because of public castigation.” BJP leaders, however, said they were ready to face all opposition. “Can’t we put forward our word in a democracy? We are already campaigning and getting a good response from people. No one has opposed us till now,” said Gaurav Khullar, BJP, Ludhiana rural president. He heads the party in Jagraon and Raikot. Sources in the BJP said farmers’ agitation could cause problems on some seats of Khanna and Jagraon, which were earlier held by them. They added that party candidates were focusing on the “failure” of the ruling party in addressing the civic issues of roads, sewerage system and garbage disposal.Poll schedule Elections will be held on February 14 for Khanna, Samrala, Payal, Doraha, Jagraon and Raikot municipal councils. Votes will be counted on February 17.

The Times of India

2021-02-08

Ludhiana