Panjab Politics Thread

[5aaban]

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/3-fold-rise-25-candidates-face-criminal-cases-369056

3-fold rise, 25% candidates in Punjab face criminal cases

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, February 11

Candidates with criminal cases have risen by almost three times in Punjab with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) fielding the highest number of such nominees.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Punjab Election Watch claimed this in a report after analysing the self-sworn affidavits of 1,276 candidates of the total 1,304 in fray.

521 crorepatis, up 4%

107 of them from Congress | 89 SAD | 60 BJP | 16 BSP | 11 SAD (S) | 81 AAP | 16 PLC

A Mere 7% women candidates in the fray

The report was released today by ADR Trustee Jaskirat Singh and Parvinder Singh Kittna and Harpreet Singh of Punjab Election Watch. Of the 1,276 candidates analysed, 315 or 25 per cent have declared criminal cases against them. The figure was 100 or 9 per cent (out of 1,145) in the 2017 elections. Among the 315 candidates, 65 belong to the SAD, 58 AAP, 27 BJP, 16 Congress, four SAD (Sanyukt) and three each BSP and Punjab Lok Congress (PLC).

At least 218 candidates (17 per cent) have cases with serious offences. Of them, 60 belong to the SAD, 27 AAP, 15 BJP, nine Congress, three each SAD (Sanyukt) and BSP and two PLC. Besides, 15 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, including two of rape. Four candidates have cases related to murder, while 33 have attempt-to-murder charges against them. At least 57 (49%) of 117 constituencies are in the “red alert” category. Such constituencies are those where three or more contestants have criminal cases against themselves. Also, 521 (41%) candidates are crorepatis. In 2017, 428 (37%) of 1,145 candidates were crorepatis.

The role of money power in elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties have fielded wealthy candidates. Of 521 such nominees, 89 belong to the SAD, 107 Congress, 81 AAP, 60 BJP, 16 each BSP and PLC and 11 SAD (Sanyukt).

[5aaban]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-elections-bjp-releases-manifesto-promises-75-quota-to-punjab-youth-in-govt-jobs-101644698929008.html 

Punjab polls: BJP promises 75% quota to youth in govt jobs in manifesto

Punjab elections: Apart from 75% job quota to Punjab youth, BJP manifesto also promises 35% reservation for women in all government jobs, including contractual ones.

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA released its manifesto for the February 20 Punjab assembly polls here on Saturday, promising a slew of sops for various sections, including 75% reservation in all government jobs for youngsters from the state, an unemployment allowance, 35% reservation for women in government jobs and massive infrastructure development.

The manifesto also promises 50% reservation in private jobs for the youngsters of Punjab. The BJP-JJP government in neighbouring Haryana had earlier passed a law giving 75% quota in private sector jobs to youngsters domiciled in the state. The, Punjab and Haryana high court, however, has granted a stay on the law.

 

The BJP manifesto for the Punjab polls says a dope test will be mandatory before filing nominations for elections.

An unemployment allowance of ₹4,000 per month will be given to all graduates for two years after the completion of their degrees, it says.

The manifesto promises 35% reservation for women in all government jobs, including contractual ones.

It also says fast-track courts will be established to deal with any kind of violence, harassment and oppression against women. A special law will be enacted to deal with the cases of brides abandoned by NRI grooms, the manifesto says.

The BJP is contesting the Punjab polls in an alliance with former chief minister Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Lok Congress and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

The “Sankalp” document of the saffron party was released in the presence of Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Som Parkash, BJP leaders Dushyant Gautam and Tarun Chugh and Amarinder Singh’s son Raninder Singh, among others.

The BJP-led alliance had earlier released an 11-point “Sankalp” (pledge or commitment) document and another manifesto for the rural areas, which had promised a complete loan waiver for farmers with less than five acres of land-holding.

Puri said the saffron party plans to revive Punjab’s economy with an infrastructure development fund of ₹1 lakh crore, which will be spent over a period of five years.

The party promised “zero tolerance to sacrilege”, saying fast-track courts will be set up to decide such cases in a time-bound manner.

A “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” will be constituted for addressing the grievances of the families affected by terrorism, who have been ignored by successive regimes for the last three decades, and a compensation of ₹5 lakh will be given to each family, the party said.

The manifesto promises stringent laws to disrupt the drug-supply chain in the state and the setting up of a special drug prevention task force in each district. It also says fast-track courts will be set up to expedite the investigation of drugs-related offences.

The manifesto talks about a ₹5,000 crore commitment for MSP and crop diversification.

It says special incentives will be provided for the revival of the medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs), including electricity at ₹4 per unit to such units and at ₹5 per unit to all other industries. Free electricity up to 300 units will be provided to each and every household and the tariff after the consumption of 300 units will be ₹3 per unit.

The party promised that the honorarium for anganwadi workers and accredited social health activists will be increased to ₹10,000 per month and ₹6,000 per month respectively.

Free hostel facilities will be provided to the SC students undergoing graduation and post-graduation courses. Funds will be provided from the state budget for the payment of the post-matric scholarship dues to SC students. A scholarship of ₹2,000 per month will be given to all the meritorious students. Guru kripa canteens will be established across the state to provide nutritious meals for ₹5, the BJP promised in its manifesto. The manifesto promised a medical insurance policy for providing free medical treatment to journalists and their families. “Media personnel will be exempted from toll tax”, the saffron party said in its manifesto.

 

[proudkaur21]

If you guys have family back home tell them to vote for SADA. Seems like the only good option left.

[proudkaur21]

If he doesn't win then punjab and sikhs deserve all the horrible things the future holds for them. All other communities come together and vote in their interests but low iq sikhs will always vote for people who literally hate them . If he doesnt win,any bad things that happen back home I'm not going to even bother anymore. You all deserve it at this point.

[proudkaur21]

Sikhs have become such fools due to liberalism. They think that people care for them the way they waste their resources on others rather than their own. No one is going to come help you. No one cares about sikhs other than your own but you lot keep lying to your own to support others. Have some shame.

[proudkaur21]

https://sada.baghelsingh.com/

[proactive]

Credit to Kanwar Grewal, Harf Cheema and other singers who have come out in open support of Sardar Simranjeet Singh Mann. 

 

[5aaban]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/punjab-assembly-election/amid-low-turnout-in-malwa-muktsar-sees-78-47-polling-101645389064958.html

Amid low turnout in Malwa, Muktsar sees 78.47% polling

PATIALA/BATHINDA Barring few minor clashes, voting in the Malwa belt of Punjab — comprising 69 of the 117 assembly seats — remained peaceful on Sunday

 

Barring few minor clashes, voting in the Malwa belt of Punjab — comprising 69 of the 117 assembly seats — remained peaceful on Sunday. The region recorded 69.33% turnout, a steep decline from 81.1% in the 2017 elections. However, Muktsar district witnessed 78.47% turnout, the highest among all districts in the state.

The region has high-stakes constituencies from were prominent politicians, including CM Charanjit Singh Channi (Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur), former chief minister and SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal (Lambi), SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal (Jalalabad), Punjab Lok Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh (Patiala), AAP state unit chief Bhagwant Mann (Dhuri), former CM and Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and former Akali minister Parminder Dhindsa (Lehra) and finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal from (Bathinda Urban), are trying their luck.

Chamkaur Sahib, from where chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi is contesting, recorded a voting percent of 74.2%. Lambi, from where Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal is contesting, saw a poll percentage of 72.4%. On SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s turf Jalalabad, 77% of voters exercised their right to franchise. The Patiala Urban constituency, from where Capt Amarinder is seeking re-election, registered 63.3% poll percentage, the lowest amongst the all high-profile seats in the state.

According to reports, unidentified Congress workers were booked for manhandling Aam Aadmi Party candidate Labh Singh, who is contesting against chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi from Bhadaur seat.

Polling remained peaceful in Fatehgarh Sahib district, which include three assembly segments of Amloh, Bassi Pathana and Fatehgarh Sahib. Though the final polling details were yet to come till filing of the report, the district recorded 69.34% of polling till 5pm. In 2017, the district recorded 81.7% polling.

Malerkotla district, having two constituencies Amargarh and Malerkotla, recorded 72.84% polling. Amargarh witnessed 72.88% polling while in Malerkolta, 72.8% of voters exercised their franchise. Sangrur district polled 74.3% votes in five constituencies.

A scuffle took place between Congress and Shiromani Akai Dal (Sanyukt) workers in Khanauri town of the district. The Bhawanigarh police registered a case against an unidentified person after they found poll slips with photos of Congress candidate Vijay Inder Singla. A case was registered under Sections 171-C (Undue influence at elections) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC..

District election officer-cum- deputy commissioner Ramvir said the turnout was 74.7 % in Lehra, 76.6 % in Dirba, 73.8 % in Sunam, 74.4% in Dhuri and 72.2% in Sangrur segments.

Two sons of Ferozepur Urban BJP candidate Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Bollywood actor Mahie Gill, besides an aide of the constituency’s Congress nominee were booked for poll code violation on the eve of the Punjab assembly elections.

In his report to the police, the Ferozepur Urban returning officer said that Anumeet Hira Sodhi, the elder son of the BJP nominee, held a rally at Azad Chowk without permission on February 11, while actor Mahie Gill was also present on the stage. A case was registered against Anumeet and Mahie under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

An AAP worker was injured in a clash between party supporters and BJP workers at the border village of Jallo Kee in Ferozepur Urban assembly segment on Sunday.

 

[5aaban]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/punjab-assembly-election/punjab-polls-doaba-hub-of-dalit-politics-sees-6-drop-in-turnout-101645388824061.html

Punjab polls: Doaba, hub of Dalit politics, sees 6% drop in turnout

Sandwiched between Beas and Sutlej, Doaba region comprises four districts — Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and SBS Nagar — with a total of 23 seats in the Punjab assembly

Amid a triangular contest on most seats, polling passed off largely peaceful amid 67.57% turnout in Punjab’s Doaba region as assembly elections were held on Sunday. However, the voting percentage saw a significant decline from 73.85% recorded in 2017 and 77.4% in 2012.

 

The region comprises four districts — Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and SBS Nagar — with a total of 23 seats in the 117-strong state assembly. In 2017, the Congress had won 15 seats, while five went to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), two to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was then an Akali ally.

Doaba is also known as the hub of Dalit politics and comprises eight reserved constituencies, including four in Jalandhar, two in Hoshiarpur and one each in Kapurthala and SBS Nagar. These reserved segments recorded 68.72% average polling, down from 73.73% in 2017. Among them, Chabbewal recorded the highest polling with 71.8% turnout.

Meanwhile, Balachaur seat in SBS Nagar district, from where SAD’s Sunita Chaudhary, AAP’s Santosh Kataria and Congress MLA Darshan Lal Mangupur were in the fray, recorded highest polling in the region at 73.8%. It was followed by Sultanpur Lodhi segment (72%) in Kapurthala district, which witnessed a four-cornered fight with cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh’s son revolting against the Congress legislator.

Jalandhar Central seat, from where senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia is in the fray, recorded lowest turnout in the region at 60.2%, followed by Jalandhar Cantonment (62.1%) that is represented by cabinet minister Pargat Singh and Hoshiarpur segment (60.2%).

Jalandhar district lags behind

Overall, SBS Nagar district led with 70.1% votes polled, though a significant drop from 77% and 79.6% in the last two elections. Jalandhar district fared the worst with 65.2 % polling, down from 72.9% and 75.6%, while the turnout stood at 67.01% in Hoshiarpur, sliding from 71.3% and 75.3% in 2017 and 2012, respectively. In Kapurthala, 67.97% polling was recorded, down from 74.2% and 79% in the past.

Jalandhar remained the only district in Doaba, where no segment touched the voting figure of 70%, whereas its total seven segments crossed this figure polling during the 2017 polls.

With the contest largely three-cornered — between ruling Congress, SAD-BSP alliance and AAP — help desks set up by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, the newly floated political front of farm unions, wore a deserted look in most villages while the BJP help desks too witnessed a low footfall in rural segments of Jalandhar, Kapurthala and SBS Nagar. However, after bitter campaigning statewide, in a positive sign, parties shared common help desks outside polling stations at Nangal Jatta village in SBS Nagar and a few other villages in Kapurthala and Jalandhar.

Many youngsters and women in Jalandhar’s urban segments claimed that they were voting for change, with issues such as jobs and employment taking priority over security and other national issues. Meanwhile, in rural segments of Doaba, the Charanjit Singh Channi government’s power bill waivers and other schemes seems to have resonated with the electorate. With voters sealing the fate of all candidates, only the results to be announced on March 10 will tell whether the Congress’ Channi gambit and Dalit factor pays off in Doaba.

 

 

[Premi5]

@shastarSingh @proactive and anyone else who knows what's happening at 'ground level' - what seems will be the outcome when results come ?

Any ideas ?