Candidates kick-start formal campaign by paying obeisance at religious places

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 16

With the Election Commission allowing public gatherings, with restrictions to follow guidelines on prevention of spread of Covid, candidates of various parties kick-started their campaigns by paying obeisance at different religious places, irrespective of their own religion.

As the Raikot, Dakha, Payal and Khanna Assembly segments getting official candidates of the Congress on Saturday, nominees and probable candidates from other parties too throttled up their movement started earlier at a slow pace.

Accompanied by his supporters, friends and relatives, Raikot Congress nominee Kaamil Amar Singh, an MBA from Cambridge University, visited Gurdwara Tahliana Sahib, Bagichee Bagh, Shivala Khaam Mandir, Jain Mandir, Mandir Gaushala Committee and Mandir Katcha Kila to pray for victory with a wide margin.

Followers of MP father Dr Amar Singh Boparai and former legislator Gurcharan Singh Boparai accompanied Kaamil during the prayers.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu, an SAD-BSP alliance candidate, and AAP nominee Hakim Singh Thekedar also kick-started their respective campaigns by paying obeisance at various shrines.

Payal Congress candidate MLA Lakhvir Singh Lakha started his campaign by worshiping Lord Shiva at ancient Mahadev Temple at Payal that was followed by visits to other religious places of the region, including gurdwaras, temples and deras.

Manpreet Singh Giaspura (AAP) and Dr Jaspreet Singh Bija (BSP-SAD) also started their campaigns by paying obeisance at religious places of the area.

Khanna candidates, including Congress nominee and Cabinet Minister Gurkirat Kotli, AAP nominee Taranpreet Sond and SAD-BSP nominee Jaspreet Kaur Yadoo, started the first day of formal campaign by seeking blessings at various religious places of the city and surrounding villages.

While the AAP is yet to announce its candidate for the Dakha Assembly constituency, Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu of the Congress launched his campaign after praying at Gurdwara Maskiana Sahib at Mullanpur and other religious places. Legislator Manpreet Ayali, alliance candidate of SAD and BSP, has already been visiting religious places seeking blessings and meeting devotees associated with these shrines.