21122024-JTR-01.qxd 12/20/2024 11:00 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune VOTERS TO DECIDE FATE OF 278 CANDIDATES TODAY LUDHIANA NRI KILLED IN ACCIDENT AT PHAGWARA DILJIT SURPASSES SHAH RUKH KHAN ON UK CELEBRITY LIST The Kapurthala administration has finalised steps for free and fair MC and nagar panchayat elections. P2 The taxi in which he’s travelling with his mother rammed into a tractortrailer. His mother is serious. P3 Claims the top spot on the UK’s list of the Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World. P4 » » » FORECAST CLEAR MAX 19°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5.29 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:22 AM SATURDAY | 21 DECEMBER 2024 | JALANDHAR Poll promises ‘eyewash’, voters dejected Aakanksha N Bhardwaj WARD NO. 33 AN EXCEPTION Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 20 Visit any area and it speaks volumes of the condition of the ward, whether it is good or bad. The Tribune visited five wards of the city on the eve of the MC elections and found out that a lot needs to be done there. The correspondent spoke to a section of people and strangely, everyone expressed one thought, “We will cast our vote as it’s our right. But, the elections are not going to change anything. This we have learnt after all these years.” The Model Town area of the city is one of the posh ones. Unlike other wards, this ward is comparatively clean, parks are well-maintained and roads are smooth. Residents and shopkeepers say that the ward was definitely better placed compared to others. Several huge showrooms and shops, brands, restaurants and hotels are in the area. During a visit to the area, no overflowing of sewage was found. One of the most famous parks ‘Shivani Park’ is also situated in Model Town. A shop owner said, “The actual problem is traffic jam, otherwise everything is good. We really hope that things remain good,” he said. Garbage everywhere in Ward no. 23 Garbage, potholed roads, drug menace, sewerage problems and what not! The area always remains in the news because of wrong reasons. Residents of the Qazi Mandi area of the ward are so frustrated that they say ‘Kuch nai ho skda ethe’. Rakesh Kumar, who is living in Qazi Mandi said snatchings and drug menace are rampant in the area. He said he was worried for the future of his children. Surjit Singh, an elderly person from the area, said no one wants to work here. “Our relatives don’t come here. Even rickshaw pullers refuse to come to this area at night. Now you can conclude in what conditions Piles of garbage and waste mar the entire stretch in the Qazi Mandi of Ward no. 23 in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH we are living here,” an upset Surjit Singh said. Ward no. 57 grapples with poor roads, dirty water A part of Basti Danishmanda is in this ward. Danishmanda got its name because of the genius and intelligence of persons (referred to as Danishmands in Urdu) living here. Among them, a majority were Muslims. ‘Peeli Kothi’ is a landmark of Basti Danishmanda. Residents said Basti Danishmanda is known for this kothi and everyone who comes from outside surely goes to have a look at it. People said one of the families of the Danishmands used to live in the kothi and the bungalow was the last proof of their existence. The area grapples with water, sewerage and solid waste management and poor road issues. Ashwini Kumar, a resident of Shivpuri said, “Asi naukri nai mangde (we aren’t asking to give us jobs. We just want clean water and smooth roads. Is it an inappropriate demand? Dog menace haunts Ward no. 54 residents It seems that piles of garbage, contaminated water and clogged roads during the monsoon are a common factor in every ward. In Katra Mohalla, the stray dog menace is another issue that haunts the residents. Kanta Devi, living in Katra Mohalla for 45 years, said she will not vote. She says, “Vote mangan vale 50 bande c m y b ne, te kamm karan vaala ek vi nai (There are so many people who come and seek votes, but none of them actually works). Our kids cannot go to school whenever it rains as the water gets accumulated here,” she said. Another resident Veena Rani said the water that we consume is not at all fit for drinking. “It smells. Do we deserve this? Why do we get such a treatment? I have decided I am not going to vote. The elections are just eyewash,” she said. WARD NO. 35 ALSO STANDS OUT This is also a clean ward in the city. When parks in other wards are in poor condition, parks here seem to be well maintained and even the roads leading to GTB Nagar, one of the lavish areas of the ward, are free of potholes. Manish, a businessman from the area, said, “I was earlier living in Preet Nagar and when we shifted here three years ago, it felt that we had come to a different city altogether. It’s clean. Even water is clean and potable, there is no issue of waterlogging as well,” he said. Polling staff with election material on way to polling stations on the eve of MC polls in Jalandhar on Friday. PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH All set for triangular contest in 85 wards 3 couples, 80 Independents in fray Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 20 A triangular battle is on the cards among candidates of the ruling AAP Congress and BJP , for the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation polls to be held tomorrow. A total of 380 candidates will vie in 85 wards. The administration today deployed staff and dispatched teams with EVMs and election material for all 677 booths in the city. The Congress does not have a candidate on Ward no. 33 as Manmeet Kaur, wife of industrialist Sumit Sharma, had to drop her papers. The BJP does not have a candidate on two wards - Ward no. 65 where its candidate Anjali Gill could not file papers in time and Ward no. 62 where its candidate withdrew his papers. There are 31 candidates from SAD and 17 from the BSP too. Independents have made the fight interesting in several wards. There are 80 candidates contesting independently, most of them being AAP rebels. There are several wards which have a higher number of contestants as in Ward no. 41 where there are eight candidates. Continued on page 2