Punjab MLA report card: Aruna from Dinanagar, Charanjit from Qadian

Aruna Chaudhary, 59, Congress

Constituency: Dinanagar (SC-Reserved)

Education: Graduate

Assets declared in last polls: Rs 4.9 cr

Electoral record:

2012: Defeated Bishan Dass Dhupar of the BJP by 12,927 votes

2007: Lost to Sita Ram of the BJP by a margin of 842 votes

Assembly record:

Questions asked: 55

Call attention moved: 2

Power punch: Family’s Cong history; father-in-law was four-time MLA

What next: Close to Amarinder; no rivals in party, so likely to get ticket

How she performed

Being an opposition MLA, she could not get any major development projects sanctioned for her constituency. Whatever little she did was from the MPLAD funds provided by former Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa and former Rajya Sabha member Ashwani Kumar. With Rs 2 crore, she got two pontoon bridges constructed to connect with around a dozen villages across the Ravi. She remained in touch with voters for which she has earned goodwill. Besides highlighting issues related to her constituency in the assembly, she actively participated in protests against the SAD-BJP regime. The constituency hasn’t seen much change on the ground, though, as the basic infrastructure remains as it was in 2012.

By the way: Has painting as a serious hobby

Voterspeak

“Nothing happened in the area in the last five years as our MLA belongs to the opposition. We paid the price for that. No grudges against MLA!,” Deepak Mahajan, 59, poultry feed trader, said.

“She could not do much, but is accessible. She is educated, understands problems. I’m sure if her party wins, she will be minister and work hard,” Amit Kumar, 39, motorcycle showroom owner, said.

Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, 58, Congress

Constituency: Qadian

Education: Graduate

Assets declared in last polls: Rs 17.9 cr

Electoral record

2012: Defeated Sewa Singh Sekhwan of the SAD by a margin of 16,156 votes

2007: She did not contest; Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal of SAD won this seat

Assembly record:

Questions asked: 47

Call attention moved: 0

Power punch: Wife of RS MP and state Cong ex-chief Partap Bajwa

What next: She or her son would contest; Partap Bajwa to decide

How she performed

Being a Congress MLA, she could not manage to bring any major development project from the state government for her constituency. Her only help came from the MPLAD fund of her husband Partap Singh Bajwa who was Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur till 2014 and is now in the Rajya Sabha. As Gurdaspur district Congress committee was dominated by those opposed to her husband, she kept away from protests that party colleagues organised at the district level. However, she did protest, through a letter to the CM, about working of the Akali halqa in-charge Sewa Singh Sekhwan and distribution of funds. She complained about not being invited to government functions where again Sekhwan, whom she had defeated, was given prominence.

By the way Runs NGO and projects for women

Voterspeak

“Whatever development took place was done by the SAD and its halqa in-charge Sewa Singh Sekhwan (whom Charanjit had defeated). She was rarely seen in the area,” Sangram Chaudhary, 30, rice miller, said.

“She was never in touch with voters. Now, Congress leaders are coming here after lying low for four years. The constituency lacks basic infrastructure and facilities of health,” Jagandeep Singh, 28, businessman, said.