Jalandhar: Punjab It seems that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh is shifting his focus to Channi Doaba region, especially the reserved seats. He announced projects worth more than Rs 100 crore for Banga constituency on Tuesday after he announced development projects worth Rs 157.96 crore for Adampur constituency on November 15. Akali Dal is currently holding both the seats.
Traditionally, the Congress was strong in the region that played a key role in bringing the SAD-BJP to power in 2007, 2012; In 2017 also the Akali Dal was successful in winning five of its 15 seats from this region. Out of these five seats, three were reserved and all the three Akali Dal MLAs started their career in these seats with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BSP has the maximum hold in the Doaba region and its alliance with the SAD is a big challenge for the Congress as the party (BSP) has its pockets of influence where it can strike a balance.
So far, two constituencies of Channi Doaba region have undergone specific rounds and both are reserved seats. In both these seats, he specifically mentioned that the BSP got a raw deal from the Akalis as it was not given seats where it was very strong, but was given seats where it had little presence. Channi is apparently trying to take advantage of the discontent within the BSP in some seats for the same reason.
Although started out as a party of Bahujans (Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes), the BSP became largely a party of one caste – Ravidassia/ad-dharmi. Channi comes from the same caste background and it is believed that his presence at the top will help the Congress increase its footprint among the Scheduled Castes and their caste in particular. This caste has a strong presence in the Doaba. The representation of the region in the state cabinet also increased from one to three after Channi was replaced by Captain Amarinder Singh as the CM.
Suspended sarpanch demanded investigation
Demanding a vigilance inquiry into the development works being carried out in the villages of Jalandhar parliamentary constituency, Darshan Kumari, sarpanch of suspended Virk village, who is associated with Congress, has written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi demanding a vigilance inquiry. He has leveled corruption charges against Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh and his son Vikramjit, who contested from Phillaur assembly constituency in 2017 and is now in-charge of the constituency. Darshana has claimed that she was suspended for refusing to follow the instructions of the father-son duo. Vikramjit Choudhary, however, rubbished the allegations saying Damanveer Singh, son of former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, was behind the case and was running a malicious campaign against him to revive his political career. At a press conference held on Wednesday, he said that Darshan was suspended on a complaint from panchayat members as he had leased out 10 acres of panchayat land in violation of rules.
In Jalandhar, AAP woos industry
AAP’s national leader and Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday claimed that industrial revolution would be brought in Punjab if AAP forms the government in the state. Sisodia, while interacting with traders, traders, industrialists and shopkeepers here, claimed that corruption will end, ‘Inspector Raj’ will end and most importantly political and bureaucratic interference will be completely stopped.
Traditionally, the Congress was strong in the region that played a key role in bringing the SAD-BJP to power in 2007, 2012; In 2017 also the Akali Dal was successful in winning five of its 15 seats from this region. Out of these five seats, three were reserved and all the three Akali Dal MLAs started their career in these seats with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BSP has the maximum hold in the Doaba region and its alliance with the SAD is a big challenge for the Congress as the party (BSP) has its pockets of influence where it can strike a balance.
So far, two constituencies of Channi Doaba region have undergone specific rounds and both are reserved seats. In both these seats, he specifically mentioned that the BSP got a raw deal from the Akalis as it was not given seats where it was very strong, but was given seats where it had little presence. Channi is apparently trying to take advantage of the discontent within the BSP in some seats for the same reason.
Although started out as a party of Bahujans (Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes), the BSP became largely a party of one caste – Ravidassia/ad-dharmi. Channi comes from the same caste background and it is believed that his presence at the top will help the Congress increase its footprint among the Scheduled Castes and their caste in particular. This caste has a strong presence in the Doaba. The representation of the region in the state cabinet also increased from one to three after Channi was replaced by Captain Amarinder Singh as the CM.
Suspended sarpanch demanded investigation
Demanding a vigilance inquiry into the development works being carried out in the villages of Jalandhar parliamentary constituency, Darshan Kumari, sarpanch of suspended Virk village, who is associated with Congress, has written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi demanding a vigilance inquiry. He has leveled corruption charges against Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh and his son Vikramjit, who contested from Phillaur assembly constituency in 2017 and is now in-charge of the constituency. Darshana has claimed that she was suspended for refusing to follow the instructions of the father-son duo. Vikramjit Choudhary, however, rubbished the allegations saying Damanveer Singh, son of former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, was behind the case and was running a malicious campaign against him to revive his political career. At a press conference held on Wednesday, he said that Darshan was suspended on a complaint from panchayat members as he had leased out 10 acres of panchayat land in violation of rules.
In Jalandhar, AAP woos industry
AAP’s national leader and Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday claimed that industrial revolution would be brought in Punjab if AAP forms the government in the state. Sisodia, while interacting with traders, traders, industrialists and shopkeepers here, claimed that corruption will end, ‘Inspector Raj’ will end and most importantly political and bureaucratic interference will be completely stopped.
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