Looking for poll vault parties line up planks

In the previous five-year term of the Municipal Corporation,for the past four years there have been Congress mayors with the party being in majority in the House. The leaders of the party opine that the residents of the city are interested in development issues rather than a negative campaign. Sitting councillor of the Congress Pardeep Chhabra,who is a former mayor says,“We would be highlighting the development that we have undertaken over the past few years. A large number of green spaces have been developed. Better facilities have been made available to the residents.”

He opines that the Anna Hazare effect would not matter in the elections with team Anna struggling with its own problems. He said that the candidates in each ward would look at issues that are of importance. Issues like better sanitation facilities,multilevel parking and banquet hall top his priority list.

While the party would be holding a meeting to decide on its manifesto,every candidate has already been instructed on how to deal with situation in case questions on corruption are raised. The candidates have been informed about the policies about the party at the national level.

The sitting councillors,wherever they have been given tickets,are defending development in their wards. The parties in the Opposition,meanwhile are all set to take up the issues of corruption and inflation as well as lack of development in wards.

General Secretary of city unit of BJP Arun Sood says that corruption is a major issue for the elections. “We have already released a booklet highlighting the scams by the Congress in the city. The scams at the national level are well known. The city has not seen much development. The Congress terms installation of paver blocks and fountains at all places as development. The vision for the city is lacking. The common people are suffering due to inflation. The Congress is not concerned about them,” he said.

A BJP leader opines that the Anna Hazare movement would have an impact in the city. He stated that in wards where there are cases registered against the candidates,it would be a major issue.

The convenor of Bahujan Samaj Party Haffiz Anwar-ul-Haq,meanwhile,states that people are fed up of Congress and BJP and are looking for an alternative.

He said that the city has not seen much development,especially the colonies and villages are neglected. The upgradation of this neglected section would be the party’s priority.

The Chandigarh Jan Manch wants to focus on better governance and a transparent system of functioning. The members want modern management tools as well as information and communication through the Internet.