Batala: Rift in Congress gives push to growth

Ravi Dhaliwal

In the recent past, Batala has remained the playground of three Congress leaders even as, rather ironically, infighting among them has actually acted as a catalyst for development in the Assembly seat.

The welfare steps taken in the past five years clearly surpass the growth witnessed in the past seven decades. “Every second day a new project is launched. The latest is a new Rs 170-crore sewerage system,” said Dr Satnam Singh Nijjar, chairman, Gurdaspur Planning Board.

The three ruling party men who have interest in this seat are Cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Member of Parliament Partap Singh Bajwa and former legislator Ashwani Sekhri. All three are outdoing one another as far as ushering in new ventures is concerned.

Tript Bajwa kick-started the development race by getting the Hansli drain brick-lined. Its capacity has been doubled which means the city no longer remains flood prone.

The credit for laying the new sewerage system also goes to him. Likewise, Sekhri is also bringing new projects. Partap Bajwa has often taken up cudgels in Parliament on behalf of the area’s ailing industry.

Past trend

In all polls held since 1985, Ashwani Sekhri remains the common factor. He won on three occasions and lost on four. The electoral battle has primarily revolved around the Congress, SAD and BJP. AAP fought for the first time in 2017 and was placed third.

Electorate strength

Total voters: 1,62,393

Male: 85,083

Female: 77,307

Third gender: 3

Locals’ key demands

• Shifting of bus stand
• District status
• New sewerage system
• Tax concession for industry