CHANDIGARH MC ELECTIONS: Independent candidates likely to dent vote bank of parties fielding 'outsiders'

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15

Independent candidates, who are fighting the MC elections from the area where they reside, are likely to dent the vote bank of the main political parties. Many of the Independents are contesting as the political parties did not field local candidates.

The Independent candidates Chandigarh Tribune spoke to informed that there was no development in their area as parties have been fielding ‘outsiders’. Thus, they have taken on themselves to set the system right.

Sector 51 resident Ashwani Mittal (53), a property consultant who quit AAP and is contesting from Ward number 32 (Sector 51 and 44), said, “The BJP, the Congress and AAP did not field their candidates from Sector 51. Even the last three councillors were not even from the ward. After AAP did not listen to our pleas of naming a local candidate, people here encouraged me to fight the poll, although the party changed its candidate and fielded one from Sector 44 at the last moment.”

“Outsider councillors did not understand the local problems or do any of our works. If I am elected, I will work on getting an e-Sampark centre, a community centre, a government school, a local market and a dispensary in Sector 51. I will also ensure maintenance of all parks.” MN Shukla, who is independently fighting from Ward number 35 (Sectors 48, 49, 50 and 63), has been a vocal supporter of local candidates.

“Because of the non-cooperative attitude of councillors, who are from other sectors, the Voice of Housing Societies (VOHS) felt they could not provide any relief to dwellers of housing societies, be it in the matter of stamp duty, unearned increase, non-issuance of completion certificate or a steep hike in the water tariff.

Thus, the VOHS decided to have its own councillor from the area, who will be truly taking up the cause of the people,” shared Shukla.

A local candidate from Kishangarh, Paramjit Kaur Lubana (34), who is fighting from Ward number 4 against the candidates from other areas, stated, “Villagers asked me to contest after they saw there is no candidate from Kishangarh. Due to outsider councillors’, our village has broken roads, streets, poor sewerage system and drinking water issues.”

BJP rebel and Dadu Majra resident Narinder Chaudhary, who is contesting as an independent from Ward number 26, added, “The BJP preferred a nominee (Rajesh Kalia) who is a resident of Jujhar Nagar in Punjab and not from Dadu Majra. As a councillor, Kalia failed to get the garbage dumping ground issue resolved. I will get the dumping ground cleared and ensure parks are maintained and street lights lit. I know the local problems better.”

Independents are already making efforts to emerge as a strong force as 12 of them had earlier formed ‘Azad Front’, which is spearheaded by former general secretary of the city Congress Shashi Shankar Tiwari. “They will not only dent the vote bank, but will also win the elections as local people are supporting them instead of outsiders fielded by political parties. In the MC elections, the winning margin is very less so these ‘Azads’ will make a major difference,” felt Tiwari.