Ruling alliance retains Jalandhar MC, but with reduced strength

JALANDHAR: Even as the SAD-BJP alliance managed to win more seats than Congress in Jalandhar, its tally has gone down by four seats as compared to the previous MC house.
Dismal performance by Shiromani Akali Dal had mainly contributed to the lowering of tally, which has now triggered murmurs within the party over selection of party candidates as, in a particular ward, the party drifted to third place where the candidate was allegedly picked up on former minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan's recommendations, who was incharge of elections in Jalandhar.
Meanwhile, Congress managed to improve its tally by three seats while PPP could open its account with only one seat. SAD won 11 out of 22 seats it contested (it had won two seats unopposed) while BJP won 19 out of 38 seats contested. The main loser was SAD as it got three seats less than the previous MC house, though two of its candidates have won unopposed this time.
Out of the 16 wards of Jalandhar West constituency, which is represented by local bodies minister Chunni Lal Bhagat, the alliance could win only three seats while 11 seats were won by Congress. This is in total contrast with assembly election results, in which Congress MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee's wife Suman Kaypee had lost. Kaypee's constituency has contributed 50% seats to Congress tally this time.
Local SAD leaders said that the lower tally is due to selection of wrong candidates. Despite SAD-BJP leadership expressing happiness about retaining the MC for a consecutive term, allegations about exchange of money for tickets have also started doing the rounds. In ward no. 8, SAD's Ranjit Singh Rana ended up third, while two SAD rebels got more than double the votes polled by him. SAD leaders said that Rana was Sekhwan's pick.
When contacted, Sekhwan held that some mistakes happened during selection of candidates. He passed the buck to SAD MLAs, stating that candidates were selected on their recommendations. "We simply followed what the MLAs recommended," he said, putting the entire responsibility on MLAs. "I had not put my weight behind any candidate," he added.
Of the seven independents won, five are BJP rebels, one of SAD and one mainly won due to BSP's support.
Solace for SAD
Results of three nagar panchayats of Jalandhar district has come as a solace for SAD after not-so-good performance in Jalandhar MC. In Shahkot, SAD won two remaining seats, while its candidates have already won unopposed in 11 out of total 13 seats. Congress candidates had withdrawn their papers and only independents remained in fray from the two wards.
In Bhogpur, SAD won 10 out of 13 seats while three Congress-supported independents won. In Goraya, SAD won seven seats, Congress five and independent one.
Out of three Nagar Panchayats of district Kapurthala - Bholath, Begowal and Dhilwan SAD has won two Bholath and Begowal. In Balachaur Congress supported independents got the majority