A year before the Punjab Assembly elections, the semifinals of political power in the state is about to begin. After the announcement of eight Municipal Corporation and 109 Municipal Council elections yesterday, Congress, AAP, SAD and BJP have started their preparations for the elections.
The credibility of these four parties is at stake in this election. The term of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is due to end in March 2022. It will be for the first time in this election that Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party will fight against each other.
It is a general observation and perception that the ruling party has the upper hand in these elections. The peasant movement spearheaded by the people of Punjab is at its peak at the moment. It is likely to have an enormous impact on these elections. The Cheif Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh will try to increase his influence by winning the election. The four parties will contest on their respective electoral symbols.
100 Assembly Seats to be covered
The forthcoming elections for Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats will cover more than 100 Vidhan Sabha constituencies. In Punjab, the four parties will contest for 117 Assembly seats.
Bathinda, Abohar, Batala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Moga and Pathankot are the major cities in these elections.
The reputation of Ashwini Kumar of BJP in Pathankot, Sunil Jakhar of Abohar, Manpreet Badal and Harsimrat Badal of Bathinda, Sham Sundar Arora of Congress in Hoshiarpur and Tikshan Sood of BJP, Rana Gurjeet from the Congress at Kapurthala is at stake.
Meanwhile, for the first time in Kapurthala, Municipal Coroporation elections are going to be held.
What are the political implications for Amarinder Singh?
Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh had in the last assembly elections said that he would not contest the 2022 assembly elections but later he backtracked and hinted at contesting the elections of 2022.
In such a scenario, if the Congress wins the elections for Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, then the Congress' Assembly claim will become even stronger. At present, the Congress party is trying to please former cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and he can return to the cabinet at any time.
If present situation is ascertained, Amarinder Singh wants to win this election on his own. He wishes to capture as many seats as possible so that their claim in the forthcoming assembly elections becomes strong.
Political significance for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
There are many urban and semi-urban areas in Punjab where the Shiromani Akali Dal is contesting this election for the first time after it separated from their long term ally Bharaitya Janta Party (BJP). SAD is said to be under pressure as far as their performance is concerned.
The credibility of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal would also be at stake. It is also important for SAD to win more seats in these elections because the more seats the SAD candidates have, the clearer it will be for SAD to have a seat as the primary opposition party.
Bathinda and Mohali currently have the mayors of SAD but it is important for them to retain their seats. Similarly, Pathankot and Hoshiarpur also have BJP mayors.
Political significance for the BJP and its future
It seems difficult for the BJP to win this election. Although the BJP has a good vote bank in Punjab, the farmers protest is an enormous hurdle that can prove to be a hindrance.
In Pathankot, BJP's Anil Vasudeva is the present mayor. Both Anil and BJP State President, Ashwani Sharma, seems to have strong hold in Pathankot, however, due to the ongoing farmers' agitation this is going to be a tough fight now.
In Hoshiarpur, BJP mayor Tikshan Sood will try to retain its seat. Batala is called the stronghold of the BJP and maintaining it as a stronghold will be a challenge for them.
In these elections, the Akali Dal will try its best to somehow break the seats of its long term ally BJP. Finding candidates for 109 Municipal Councils will also be a major challenge for the Congress in these elections.
Political significance for Aad Aami Party
Agitation of farmers has become a golden opportunity for the Aam Aadmi Party, in which it has got a chance to show its prowess. The farmers' protest has also enhanced the image of the Aam Aadmi Party. In such a scenario, if the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party remains at number two, it will have a direct battle with the Congress in the upcoming assembly elections. It will directly benefit them in the Assembly Elections of 2022.
At the same time, the BJP leader from Kapurthala has recently joined the fray, which could be a wake-up call for the BJP.
Areas in which elections are going to held
Votes will be cast for Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Hoshiarpur and Abohar Municipal Corporations of Fazilka district. Apart from this, ward no. 37 that is reserved for backward castes, there will be by-elections.
Similarly, Municipal Council / Nagar Panchayat elections are going to be held in Ajnala, Ramdas, Raiya, Majitha and Jandiala Guru of Amritsar district while Bhikhiwind and Patti in Tarn Taran district, Gurdaspur, Sri Hargobindpur, Fatehgarh Churian, Dhariwal, Qadian in Gurdaspur district are other areas where elections are going to be held.
Elections are going to be held in Dinanagar and Sujanpur in Pathankot district. Similarly, elections will be held in Nakodar, Noormahil, Phillaur, Kartarpur, Alavalpur, Adampur, Lohian and Mehtapur districts of Jalandhar district while Sultanpur Lodhi of Kapurthala and Dasuya, Mukerian, Urmur Tanda, Garhshankar, Garhdiwala, Haryana.
Apart from the above mentioned areas, Nawanshahr, Banga and Rahon in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Khanna, Jagraon, Samrala, Raikot, Doraha and Pyal in Ludhiana district will also conduct the elections of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats.
The district of Rupnagar has Anandpur Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib, Nangal, Morinda and Chamkaur Sahib while Fatehgarh Sahib district has Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib, Gobindgarh, Bassi Pathana and Khamanon.
The district of Barnala will have, Tapa, Bhadaur, Dhanola, it will also include Kharar, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi, Kurali, Nawangaon and Lalru of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar while Bhucho Mandi, Goniana, Maur, Rama, Kotfatta, Sangat, Kotheguru, Mehraj, Kotshmir of Bathinda district , Lehra Mohabbat, Bhairupa, Nathana, Maluka and Bhagta Bhaika.
Apart from Mansa, Budhlada, Bareta, Boha and Joga in Mansa district, Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha in Sri Muktsar Sahib district and Ferozepur, Guru Harsahai, Zira, Talwandi Bhai, Mudki and Mamdot in Ferozepur district and Fazilka and Jalalabad in Fazilka district, the elections are going to be held in Faridkot, Kotkapura and Jaito that fall in Faridkot district.
Similarly, Badhanikal, Kot Issa Khan and Nihal Singh Wala in Moga district will also go for elections. By-polls are going to be held in three wards of two Nagar Panchayats / Municipal Councils including Hoshiarpur district ward no. 1 reserved for women while ward no. 11 is reserved for Schedule Castes (SC) and ward no. 8 of Mullapur Dakhan will also vote.