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MLA report card: Rajnish Kumar Babbi and Sukhjit Kaur Sahi
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Rajnish Kumar Babbi, 56, Independent**
Constituency: Mukerian
Education: Graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 3.5 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated BJP’s Arunesh Shakir by a margin of 12,119 votes
2007: Lost to BJP’s Arunesh Shakir by a margin of 14,678 votes
Assembly record
Questions asked: 91
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Father Dr Kewal Krishan was 5-time MLA, speaker, minister
What next Last time, won as Cong rebel; now likely to get party ticket
How he performed
Babbi joined Congress shortly after winning as a rebel independent, though there were speculations of his joining the SAD-BJP government as it was rumoured that he was prompted to contest by the SAD. Being in the opposition, he did not have much access to funds for development, but he joined protests against illegal mining and a proposed thermal plant in the area, arguing that these activities jeopardised peoples’ lives. He challenged wrongful land mutations in court as certain influential people had allegedly become illegal owners of government land. He may not have attained the status of his legendary father, but he has formed a good rapport with supporters in the area.
By the way Turned ancestral house into library for public
Voterspeak
“The MLA could not do anything as, after winning as an independent, he extended support to the Congress. He did not get sufficient funds. He is easily approachable, though,” Navdeep Singh, 35, advocate, said.
“He failed to perform well owing to shortage of funds. But he has a clean image and worked hard. Choking of the sewerage is a serious problem in the constituency,” Vinay Kumar, 44, businessman, said.
**Babbi later joined Cong as associate in Assembly
Sukhjit Kaur Sahi, 56, BJP
Constituency: Dasuya
Education: Graduate
Assets declared in last polls: `7.3 cr
Electoral record
July 2012 bypoll: As her MLA husband died, defeated Cong’s Arun Dogra by 47,500 votes 2012: Amarjit Singh Sahi won against Cong’s RC Dogra; he won in 2007 too
Assembly record
Questions asked: 6
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Close to BJP national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna
What next Likely to be the party candidate again
How she performed
She inherited the legacy of her late husband Amarjit Singh Sahi, so she did not have to struggle to establish herself. The show is, however, run by her son, Dr Harsimrat Singh Sahi, who is the Dasuya municipal council president. His rise has not gone down well with certain BJP leaders, who have become passive, or tilted towards a faction of the SAD. The MLA is credited with making Talwara town an educational hub. A government college, an institute for army-recruitment training, a polytechnic and a School for the Meritorius were started in her tenure. Upgrade of a hospital in Kamahi Devi and an automated driving test track also go to her credit. Also, Rs 36 crore were spent on construction and repair of roads.
By the way Very religious, strict on morning prayers
Voterspeak
“The CM promised many big projects during his sangat darshan programmes, but she failed to get any implemented. Also, after Amarjit Sahi’s demise, corruption returned,” Hardeep K Bajwa, 34, owns boutique, said.
“Dasuya is living with inadequacies; lacks proper water, sewerage systems. Rural roads are in bad shape. The MLA’s son is MC president, yet civic conditions are not satisfactory,” Dalbir Singh Bittu, 41, businessman, said.
Tomorrow: Hoshiarpur, Tanda, Chabbewal, Sham Chaurasi
