Delimitation of wards in Ludhiana | Opposition accuses AAP govt of sabotage

With the delimitation of wards being ordered in five municipal corporations (MC) in the state where elections are due, opposition parties in Ludhiana have accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of trying to sabotage their chances of winning the polls.

In the letter received by MC dated June 1, director of local bodies department has directed officials to complete the survey and other necessary formalities for delimitation of wards within a week. But, the process might take some time, stated officials. Officials have also been directed to list out the total population in each of the 95 wards in the city, with details of scheduled caste (SC) and other backward class (OBC) population.

District president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and councillor Harbhajan Singh Dang said that AAP’s motive is to dividing the votes by changing the boundaries of the wards. “AAP has started to lose ground, as they have failed to fulfil the promises they made before the assembly elections and are trying to win the municipal elections by foul play,” he said.

District president of Congress and councillor Ashwani Sharma stated that there is no need for ward delimitation, as it was done only five years back and the number of wards in the city were increased from 75 to 95. “Congress is ready to tackle any situation and will contest the elections on the basis of the development works done in the past,” he said.

Similarly, BJP councillor Sunita Rani said that ward delimitation was earlier done every 10 years and now AAP is wasting money and time by doing it again after just five years. We will raise the matter with higher authorities after discussing it at party level, said Rani.

Meanwhile AAP MLA (Ludhiana east) Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal refuted the allegations levelled by opposition and stated that AAP is correcting the faulty delimitation done by Congress last time. “Last time, the Congress conducted delimitation to benefit itself in the municipal elections and there was vast difference in the population of different wards. AAP has been working for the benefit of the state and will surely form the House in the Ludhiana MC this time,” said the legislator.

An MC official, requesting anonymity, said that local AAP MLAs have already started holding meetings with building branch officials to change the boundaries of certain wards.

Uncertainty over timing of elections

The director of local bodies department’s letter, however, does not mention when the elections will be held in the five corporations.

Earlier, it was rumoured that AAP may announce the elections for this year, but it is now suspected that the elections will be held next year, after the current House dissolves.

MC seeks additional workforce

After receiving the orders to conduct door-to-door survey of population in each ward of the city, the building branch of MC has sought permission from the state government to deploy 500 additional workers on temporary basis.