MC Elections 2017: Plus-Minus math starts – Akali Dal youths join Congress in Makhu
Ferozepur, December 4, 2017: With the joining of certain Akali Dal youths in Congress at Makhu, it looks to be difficult to job on the guesswork but plus-minus math has started to get the majority of the seats during the Municipal polls to be held on December 17.
All national and regional parties are working out their strategies to make a stand for the next general elections in 2019 through December 17 elections to 3 Municipal Corporations – Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala and 32 local bodies including municipal councils and Nagar panchayats, which will play a vital role among SAD-BJP alliance and Congress including AAP which has gone at the back foot during the last Assembly elections.
Overall, it can be said to be an opportunity for the key political players to prove their worth.
In Ferozepur itself, the politics for the Nagar panchayat elections at two places – Makhu and Mallwanala, have started showing new colours. Almost all the political parties have started the plus-minus game. Earlier, Congress and SAD-BJP alliance had been contesting the elections against each other but this time, Aam Aadmi Party an is likely to play an active role at all the 13-13 seats in Makhu and Mallanwala. This time, the SAD-BJP alliance looks to be discouraged as the Congress and AAP leaders are active in arranging the closed-door, nukkad and even late hours meetings.
It is expected that AAP and SAD-BJP alliance who had performed poorly in the last Assembly elections by winning only 22 seats including 2 in alliance with Lok Insaaf Party by AAP and the SAD-BJP with just only 18 seats, likely to get a favour in view of rejection move going among the masses for Congress who has failed to have control over its working style. Almost all categories of people are not satisfied with their governance – say schemes for beneficiaries and losing control over the sand prices, not able to pay the regular wages to the employees in the state, perhaps lack of funds or short of leadership or long-term strategic plans.
The elections are likely to be interesting with the entry of the third front known as AAP in case there is the settlement between the other two parties by the strong claimants.
Zira was considered to be the hub of Akalis but with the winning of Naresh Kataria and Kulbir Singh Zira on Congress seat has proved that the SAD-BJP alliance will not work in this subdivision.
As of now, it is felt that some surprising factor will come on the surface after the results. Since the AAP has influence in this sub-division, as is evident from the candidate Gurpreet Singh Gora who bagged 30,000 votes as AAP candidate during the last Vidhan Sabha elections which could be a danger sign for Congress.
Seeing the AAP weak in these elections, has not set in their own house, Congress is still hoping to get the lion’s share in these elections as both the opponents – AAP and SAD-BJP alliance is busy in accusing each other and may not be capable to put their hands on their vote bank.
Now, it is to be seen as to whether these elections energize the volunteers of two main political parties to push the third party – AAP – on the back foot. Congress party which has come into power in the last Assembly elections is worrying as AAP could make the municipal elections a triangular contest.
The countdown will start in a couple of days for December 17 when the elections results to all 60 wards in Patiala, 80 wards in Jalandhar and 85 wards in Amritsar will be declared on the same day.
6th December is the last date for nominations and papers will be scrutinized on December 7 while the withdrawal could be on December 8. The future of the candidates will be packed in the EVMs on December 17.
