Jalandhar, December(Parteek Singh): Congress registered a landslide victory in civic polls here after 10 years, 65 out of 80 fell in Congress kitty. The Municipal Corporation Jalandhar(MCJ) might get its first woman mayor as state government made 50 per cent reservation for woman candidates in municipal corporations and many senior women Congress leaders have won the elections. So there are speculations that Jalandhar civic body house may also be led by woman mayor. The frontrunners are Congress MLA Sushil Rinku’s wife, Sunita Rinku, former Leader of Opposition Jagdish Raja’s wife, Anita Raja and senior-most women Congress councillor, Surinder Kaur
However, MLA Rajinder Beri has extended his support to Jagdish Raja to avoid getting in a rift with other MLAs over the post, so his wife Uma Beri may not be the pick for the mayoral post. The senior Congress leader Jagdish Raja’s wife is a strong contender for the post. Anita Raja has won her third election from ward 49. She has also been deputy mayor from 2007 to 2012.
Sunita Rinku elected from ward number 42 for the second time has expressed her desire to lead the MC house. Sunita backed by her husband Congress MLA from Jalandhar(West) Sushil Rinku is among the frontrunners for the mayoral post. The decision is vested with the party high command.
The senior Congress woman leader, Surinder Kaur from ward 39 is among the top contenders if a woman is chosen to lead the MC house. This is her fourth consecutive victory which makes her claim stronger. She won the MC elections in 2002 after the demise of her husband Chaudhary Ram Asra who was elected councillor of the ward in 1997. She is confident to do good job if chosen as first woman mayor of the city.
Cabinet Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu said women empowerment is our plank. The state government has made 50 per cent reservation for women in MCs, why only one we will make two women mayors in 4 MCs of Punjab. Sidhu did not clear whether Jalandhar will get its first woman mayor or not. He said the decision will be taken by the chief minister.