Premium

High drama ahead of Amritsar civic polls: Dog nominee, leaked chats and protests

Aspirants from AAP, BJP, and Congress cry foul over nominations

Mehak Rajput, associated with the Congress for 20 years, arrived at the SDM-1 office in Amritsar with her dog to file his nomination for Ward No. 38. (Express File)

Discontent among ticket aspirants for the Amritsar Municipal Corporation elections has taken a dramatic turn, with accusations of favouritism, financial demands, and neglect of loyal workers causing turmoil in the BJP, AAP, and Congress. In an unusual protest, a Congress worker nominated her dog, Jimmy, after being denied a ticket, further highlighting the rift within parties.

Mehak Rajput, associated with the Congress for 20 years, arrived at the SDM-1 office in Amritsar with her dog to file his nomination for Ward No. 38. Claiming her loyalty and contributions were ignored in favour of another candidate, she declared, “If my dog’s nomination is not accepted, I will contest as an independent candidate.” She described Jimmy’s nomination as a symbol of her frustration, emphasising his loyalty as a reflection of her commitment to the ward.

BJP faces internal strife

In the BJP, state general secretary and former IAS officer Jagmohan Singh took to Facebook to express his anger, alleging arbitrary changes to the party’s candidate list. “My heart bleeds. Lost a winning seat because an approved ticket was unauthorisedly held back,” he wrote, blaming BJP district president Harwinder Singh Sandhu. He apologised to aspirants who had sought his help but were denied tickets.

Story continues below this ad

Further controversy erupted when Harjinder Singh Raja from Ward No. 33 reportedly returned his ticket, alleging that a senior leader demanded ₹10 lakh from him. Viral social media chats also implicated a senior leader in the allegations. Vijay Singh Heera, a BJP worker for 11 years, accused the party of sidelining him in favour of an outsider. “I relocated to Amritsar two years ago to prepare for these elections, but the ticket was given to someone who recently joined the party,” he said.

Also Read | Explained: The significance of presidential pets as Joe Biden’s dogs enter White House

AAP workers allege ticket sales

Similar allegations arose in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where workers protested at the party office near Bhandari Bridge. Chanting slogans like “Worker Unity Zindabad,” they accused the leadership of selling tickets to outsiders.

Rohit Kumar, state secretary of AAP’s SC Wing, claimed tickets were sold for ₹25 lakh, even to individuals with questionable backgrounds. He alleged that the ticket for Ward No. 85 was given to a former Congress member connected to current ministers, despite his years of work for the party. Kumar, who joined AAP in 2019, said he had dedicated substantial time and resources to party campaigns, only to be overlooked.

Protesters criticised the party for ignoring loyal workers in favour of recommendations from MLAs and outsiders. They vowed to prevent external candidates from winning in the elections.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...

‘Why weren’t TVK leaders told it wasn’t right day for a big event’: Cong MP Jothimani

Political Pulse6 hr ago

A stampede at TVK founder Vijay's rally in Karur led to the death of 40 people and injuries to many. Congress's Karur MP Jothimani identifies overcrowding, poor planning, and the timing of the event as possible causes. She recommends setting clear guidelines for political gatherings and consulting all parties to prevent similar tragedies.

View all shorts

Live Blog