2 min readFeb 18, 2015 04:58 AM IST
First published on: Feb 18, 2015 at 03:02 AM IST
Defacement on trees in ward no. 25 in Mohali on Tuesday. (Source: IE photo by Jasbir Malhi)
Ved Parkash Goyal, a resident of Phase 11, was left puzzled when he received a letter from the State Election Commission confirming that he was contesting as a candidate from the BJP party in the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections from ward number 30. Goyal was the covering candidate for another BJP candidate from the same ward, Harshdeep Singh Sra, but as he failed to withdraw his nomination before the last date, he was included in the list of contesting candidates.
As a result, there are now two BJP candidates contesting from the same ward. Sra, the party’s official candidate, is contesting on the lotus symbol, while Goyal has been allotted the ‘almirah’ symbol.
Goyal, however, is not campaigning for himself, but for his “childhood friend” Sra. The residents are not aware that he is contesting, and he said that he only wants Sra to win.
“I do not know why I was included in the list of candidates. I had filed my nomination as a covering candidate, but I was told by the election officials that my nomination would be rejected because I was also a proposer for Sra, which they told me is not permitted. Assuming that my candidature would be rejected, I did not withdraw it,” said Goyal.
Despite officially being Sra’s ‘rival’, Goyal is determined to help him win. “I have no intention of getting even a single vote. That’s why I’m not campaigning for myself but only for my friend,” he said, adding that even his own vote would go to Sra.
Sra, when contacted, said, “Goyal is only my covering candidate, and he is not contesting the elections.” Mohali BJP Vice-President Rajesh Verma said that Sra is the party’s candidate from the ward and even if Goyal is officially contesting, it would not make a difference since he is not campaigning.
Returning officer Navjot Kaur said that Goyal’s name was included since he did not withdraw his nomination.
Defacement on trees in ward no. 25 in Mohali on Tuesday. (Source: IE photo by Jasbir Malhi)
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