SAD,Cong release lists

The party has reportedly received 1,350 applications from prospective candidates for the four municipal corporations of Amritsar,Jalandhar,Ludhiana and Patiala. Sources said that while it had received 510 applications for Ludhiana,275 applications have come for Amritsar,350 for Jalandhar and 215 for Patiala.

‘Neglected’ Congress workers to field 27 Independents

With the Congress releasing its list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Ludhiana Municipal Corporation polls on Wednesday,“neglected” party workers have formed a “Congress workers forum”,which will field 27 Independent candidates in different wards,who otherwise have been denied tickets.

Varun Mehta,a forum member,said: “In the list of candidates,dedicated old workers have not been considered. Tickets have been allotted mainly to the wives of councillors or relatives of MLAs,apart from a few sitting councillors. Many new faces have also been added,who have no experience in politics.”

The forum alleged that poor candidates have been fielded so as to gift the MC House to the SAS once again. “The senior leadership has not considered grassroot level workers. So,we have no choice but to form this forum. We will announce our candidates by tomorrow evening,” said Keemti Rawal,a party worker.

Meanwhile,the Congress is yet to announce candidates for four wards — 1,37,49 and 50 — as there reportedly are too many aspirants.

Despite objections from within the party,the list shows that a number of tickets have been given for the kin of the leaders. While sitting MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu has been successful in getting a ticket for his close friend’s wife,he has also applied for his wife’s candidature from ward number 49. In the wards reserved for women,wives and other relatives of former party or sitting councillors have been accommodated.

The list has surprised some senior leaders too,as many names have come up who are not known to the voters.