Campaigning ends in state

CHANDIGARH: The campaigning for October 21 byelections to four assembly seats in Punjab ended on Saturday.

The campaigning in Dakha, Jalalabad, Mukerian and Phagwara witnessed a high-pitch campaign by both the ruling Congress and the opposition SAD-BJP.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh led the Congress campaign by holding roadshows in all four segments whereas SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia were seen aggressively campaigning for the alliance candidates, especially in Dakha and Jalalabad segments contested by the SAD.

The ruling Congress will like to maintain its winning momentum in the bypolls while the SAD-BJP alliance and AAP are looking at their political revival.

The bypoll in Jalalabad seat was necessitated after Sukhbir resigned as local MLA following his victory as MP from Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency in May this year.

Similarly, the Phagwara seat was vacated by BJP’s Som Parkash after his election as MP from Ferozepur.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Dakha HS Phoolka had resigned on the issue of sacrilege, accusing the state government of failing to take action against the guilty.

The Mukerian seat fell vacant after the death of Congress MLA Rajnish Kumar Babbi.

The Congress has fielded former state youth Congress chief Raminder Singh Awla from Jalalabad, Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal from Phagwara, Indu Bala from Mukerian and Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu from Dakha.

Capt Sandhu is political secretary to the chief minister.

The SAD-BJP alliance candidates are Manpreet Ayali (SAD) from Dakha, Raj Singh Dibbipura from Jalalabad (SAD) Rajesh Bagha (BJP) from Phagwara and Jangi Lal Mahajan (BJP) from Mukerian. AAP is also contesting all the four seats.

VOTING ON OCTOBER 21; DAKHA, JALALABAD, MUKERIAN, PHAGWARA WITNESSED HIGH-PITCH CAMPAIGN BY BOTH CONG AND SAD-BJP

33 CANDIDATES IN FRAY

A total of 33 candidates are in the fray from the four seats.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on Dakha seat where CM’s aide Capt Sandhu is fighting his maiden electoral battle. He is facing a stiff challenge from SAD candidate and former MLA Ayali.

For Amarinder, it’s a battle of prestige and majority of his cabinet colleagues have been camping in this segment. The CM took out two road shows in Dakha.