Illegal mining, drugs major issues

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Traditionally a Congress bastion, Mukerian has been grappling with the problems related to irrigation, higher education, sports facilities, unemployment and governance for a long time. However, drug abuse and Illegal mining are major issues in this constituency.

The mining started in the semi-hilly terrain here in 2007. With crushers gaining a foothold, the whole business soon started turning ugly. Illegal mining led to digging up of land and drain beds deeper and deeper. At some places, the land is excavated as much as 100 feet deep. The political patronage to the illegal mining mafia has been a major electoral issue for long in past many elections.

Drug trade is also flourishing in the areas bordering Himachal Pradesh. Whenever there’s police action, drug peddlers flee to Himachal. Irrigation is also an issue with small and marginal farmers mostly dependent on canals and public tubewells. While canal tributaries remain non-functional most of the time, more than 100 irrigation tubewells are insufficient to meet the requirement.

“Stray cattle and wild animals add to the woes of farmers. Residents want a stadium, which is promised in every election but never announced. Similar is the story of a government college in the area,” says Jodh Singh, a retired teacher.

Past trend

It has largely been a Congress’ bastionsince 1969. In 1997, BJP won the seat, but Cong’s Dr Kewal Krishan got it back in 2002. In 2007, BJP won again. In 2012 and 2017, Dr Krishan’s son registered a win. After his death in 2019, his wife Indu Bala retained the seat in bypoll.

Electorate strength
Total voters 2,01,891
Male 1,03,054
Female 98,830
Third gender 7