2 weeks Ago By Shariq Majeed
Ludhiana: Ahead of the Ludhiana West byelection , the ruling Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) is collecting data about voters before launching a door-to-door campaign . Party insiders said that booth-level functionaries have been asked to collect data on prominent persons, social workers, NGOs, professionals, etc, in each booth area. The party plans to solicit support from such people.
District (urban) president Sharanpal Singh Makkar said that booklets have been given to 192 booth in-charges in the Ludhiana West segment. They will identify volunteers at the booth level, NGOs, social workers, and prominent persons in each booth area and share the information with the party. Sources in AAP said that booth in-charges have also been asked to get information about heads and other office-bearers of gurdwara and temple management committees in Ludhiana West segment so that they can be approached for help in the elections.
Another booklet has been given to booth in-charges for voter verification in each booth, the district president said, adding that the process would be carried out by booth in-charges with the help of the booth agent and councillor or ward in-charge (in case the party does not have councillors in such a ward). The AAP leader said that such verification is needed to take into account deaths, addition of new voters at the age of 18 and women voters leaving the assembly segment after marriage. He added that the booth-level teams have been asked to complete both processes by the coming Monday or Tuesday.
An AAP leader, asking not to be named, said that the party would launch a door-to-door campaign after collecting data. He added that apart from cabinet minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who is election in-charge for Ludhiana district, six other ministers will campaign for the party in the by-elections. Also, 17 MLAs from outside Ludhiana district and six from Ludhiana city will campaign.
"Around 2,000 volunteers will be involved in the election campaign. The party will focus on its achievements like free power, improvement in healthcare, education, war against drugs, provision of 55,000 jobs, and checking accidents by setting up the Sadak Suraksha Force," said Sharanpal Singh Makkar. He added that drawing room meetings with groups of voters were being held.
Meanwhile, Suresh Goyal, treasurer, Punjab AAP unit and former Ludhiana (urban) president, said that meetings and preparations were being done on war footing. He said that development work was being done in the segment every day and predicted an easy victory for the party. He also said that the byelection was a precursor of the 2027 assembly elections.
"West to bahana hai, 2027 jeetna nishana hai," he quipped. Box 1: AAP's outreach programmes On March 17, AAP national convener and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann interacted with industrialists during the "sangatkar milni" at a hotel on Ferozepur Road. On the same day, leaders held a "lok milni" programme at Jawahar Camp and Haibowal in Ludhiana West segment, where they listened to problems of area residents.
On March 18, AAP national convener and CM Bhagwant Mann inaugurated the renovated civil hospital. Later, the leaders held a rally in the indoor stadium on Pakhowal Road. MSID:: 120014603 413 |.
