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Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 7
Hectic activity and lobbying is underway in political circles after the announcement of election for the Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll along with Assembly election on February 4.
The bypoll was necessitated after sitting MP Captain Amarinder Singh resigned from the Lok Sabha on November 28 to protest against the verdict of the apex court on the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. He had ended the 10-year long BJP rule on the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat defeating BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley.
Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu said neither she nor her husband Navjot Singh Sidhu would contest the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. As a BJP nominee, Navjot Singh Sidhu thrice won the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in 2004, then a bypoll and again in 2009 General Election. She confirmed that she was approached by the Congress leaders to contest the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat but turned it down. She said they did not recommend any name for the seat.
Former MLA and district Congress committee president Jugal Kishore Sharma said all three sitting Congress MLAs— OP Soni, Raj Kumar Verka and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria— turned down the offer of contesting the Lok Sabha bypoll as they preferred to serve the people of their constituency. He said they would recommend the name of former MLA Sawinder Singh Kathunangal, who had been twice elected MLA from Majitha, for being fielded for the Lok Sabha bypoll.
A major surprise was seen in the BJP camp as its firebrand leader Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, who had earlier said she would not contest the previous assembly election, announced she would contest the Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll in case the party decides on her nomination.
Her name along with three other leaders, Tarun Chugh, Pappu Mahajan and Ram Chawla, have been forwarded for being fielded against sitting Congress MLA OP Soni from the Amritsar Central constituency. When asked, she declined to contest the assembly election and reiterated she would contest the Lok Sabha election only.
Another BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina has already announced that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley endorsed his candidature.
Meanwhile, insiders said the party had already conducted a survey and would announce its candidate at its parliamentary board meeting to be held in Delhi soon.
Verka residents to question politicians
Around the corner Assembly elections and no let up in appalling condition of civic amenities in Verka have given an opportunity to residents to question candidates visiting their area about their contribution in removing basic problems being faced by them.
They complained that open sewerage in the area posed serious health problems. Verka was neglected by the ruling SAD-BJP combine, they added.
“The government boasts of development in its advertisements, which is nowhere visible in parts of Verka,” said Pawan Deep Sharma of Punjab Sudhar Sabha.
He said people had met area councillor many times and apprised him of problems being faced by them, but nothing was done. The councilor had expressed his helplessness, he added.
Maninder Pal Singh Arora of the Guru Nanak Nagar area said, “The agency engaged in laying sewerage has dug up a large pit in front of the house of a handicapped school teacher. Due to her disability she fears coming out of her home.”
He said, “We have decided to question visiting politicians and stage protest against the administration in coming days if our problems are not solved.”
Meanwhile, residents complained that waste water of houses could not drain as the sewerage work was incomplete.
“Due to stagnant water in toilets and washrooms, a foul smell fills the entire area,” said Harpal Singh. Residents have also threatened to boycott all political leaders coming to their area.
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