Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

MYPUNJABMY­VOTE

-

HOW HE PERFORMED

The four-time MLA moved to Central segment after his old stronghold, Amritsar-West, got reserved for SCs. He could not do much to bring any developmen­t or major project to the constituen­cy which by and large comprises of the old Walled City. He, however, claims that it was at his initiative and due to his proximity with former PM Manmohan Singh that the previous UPA government included Amritsar into the urban renewal mission and also granted a sewerage project. Yet, the area suffers choked sewers. Traffic bottleneck­s are numerous. He has been a regular visitor and keeps in touch with the trader community, in particular. He got `3.5 crore from Congress MPs with which he improved drinking water facilities.

HOW SHE PERFORMED

In the entire tenure, she remained at loggerhead­s with the BJP’s alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal. Though her constituen­cy was backward and had a lot of rural areas, she managed to get the Verka flyover (under-constructi­on), Mehta-Maqboopura road, truck stand scheme, and a medicine centre at Verka. Often accusing Akalis of not releasing funds, she says she was largely dependent on MPLAD funds of her husband who was Amritsar Lok Sabha MP till 2014. Though she kept in touch with her constituen­cy, the Akalis ran a parallel group and, at times, she wasn’t even informed of functions. Due to her difference­s, she quit the BJP in September. Now her fate is tied to Awaaz-e-Punjab, led by her husband, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.

HOW HE PERFORMED

He first became MLA in a bypoll after his father, who was MLA, died. Now a two-time MLA, he came at loggerhead­s with the party around two years ago, particular­ly after he objected to a solid waste management plant in his segment. Though he worked on road projects and was also instrument­al in bringing a sewerage project in Sultanwind area, his constituen­cy faces a number of issues as far as civic amenities are concerned. Bolaria, who resides in the constituen­cy and has been in touch with the people, also got developed the Pull Taran Wala-Tarn Taran road. Though absence of a flyover remains a major problem, the MLA claims that he fought for it. He has shifted to Congress and is banking on individual and family legacy to stay relevant.

HOW HE PERFORMED

The villages villages constituen­cycontinue­hardly peoplehave matters.to is nextbe anythingha­vein to a to Many patheticth­e strugglein borderstil­lthe shape.namelack hard with busof for These Pakistan, facilities­facility,even border routineand and and do not Unsafe have bridgeshea­lth and over educationt­he defence facilities.drain create fear and recently an accident killed seven students. The two-time MLA contribute­d in expansion of the grain market and got Attari made a sub-tehsil, though. He is closely connected with the people and participat­es in social gatherings, especially religious programmes. He had to resign over alleged embezzleme­nt of funds in his constituen­cy, but was re-inducted in less than a year.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India