Jalandhar, December 15(Parteek Singh): The Municipal Corporation elections campaign concluded on Friday, the wards will go to polls on Sunday. The battle is between the traditional rivals SAD-BJP and Congress as AAP has failed to make it a triangular battle. A close fight is predicted between SAD-BJP and Congress in Jalandhar Municipal Corporation elections. All the parties and independent candidates put their full force in the civic poll campaign on the last day as it ended at 4 pm. There are 305 candidates in fray for 80 wards of Jalandhar MC. The campaign was kept low key in the elections as there was mere ten days time for campaigning.
The Congress is looking ahead in the poll as all the MLAs of four assemblies of Jalandhar are of Congress which will give a benefit to the party. The alliance is giving a tough fight to the ruling party in the state. Bhartiya Janta Party is contesting on 51 seats and Shiromani Akali Dal on 29 seats of Jalandhar MC. SAD-BJP alliance is already one seat down as SAD candidate of ward number 46 against the wife of MLA Jalandhar, West Sushil Kumar Rinku have left the poll in favour of Congress. So the total look out of elections favours Congress but SAD-BJP is also not far behind as it has dominated the MC from last decade. All three parties are facing rebellion within the party as the candidates who were denied tickets are contesting polls independently. The former deputy mayor, Arvinder Kaur Oberoi is contesting elections independently after SAD denied ticket. Oberoi and her husband joined AAP earlier this year but later both returned to SAD.
The opposition party in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Aam Aadmi Party has failed to make the contest triangular in MC polls. It may be performing role of strong opposition in assembly but on ground level party is suffering. The fastest emerging party in Punjab is losing its political ground even faster as it has failed to even field candidates on all the wards, there are only 43 candidates in fray for Jalandhar MC elections.