MLA report cards:Karan Kaur Brar and Harpreet Singh
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Karan Kaur Brar, 65, Congress
Constituency: Muktsar
Education: Graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 128 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi of SAD by 9,255 votes
2007: Her husband Kanwarjit Singh Brar won the seat; he died in 2012
Assembly record
Questions asked: 49
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Belongs to one of the richest political families of the country
What next Likely to get ticket again but party might change her segment
How she performed
She claims that she is accessible to the people and has been meeting them. However, according to several residents, neither is she accessible nor did any development take place in the area. She agrees that development has not taken place, and adds that the SAD-BJP government ignored the constituency as people had voted for the Congress. She carries the political weight and might of her family as an asset, but some younger party members in the area are demanding to change the Congress candidate. Waterlogging, lack of proper sewerage, and broken roads are major troubles for residents. The SAD leader whom Karan Kaur had defeated, Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi, is the SAD halqa in-charge and calls the shot. Officials listen only to him.
Voter speak
She rarely visits the constituency and no development was done. My family has decided not to vote this time as there is no credible candidate in sight
Lok Nath,63, former professor
No development took place in the last five years. Now, the government is laying sewer pipes and repairing roads as elections are near. All the leaders do is fill their own pockets.
Som Dutt, 35, tea seller
By the way
Loves to read history; known for dress sense
Harpreet Singh, 38, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Malout
Education: Engineering graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 30 lakh
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Nathu Ram of the Congress by a margin of 2,554 votes
2007: Defeated Nathu Ram of the Congress by a margin of 7,226 votess
Assembly record
Question asked: 36
Call attention moved: 2
Power punch Has emerged as a youth face after two consecutive wins
What next Likely to again get the party ticket
How he performed
He claims that a lot of development work took place in the last five years and the SAD-BJP government ensured overall progress of the state. Residents claim that civic amenities were not improved, and that the situation on this count continues to be bad in the villages, in particular. He also claims that a substation of 220 KVA has solved the problem of erratic electricity supply. His tenure of last ten years is not marked by any controversy, though, and he is known among the people for his ‘soft’ attitude and humble nature. When it comes to calling the shots, residents say that Dyal Singh Kolianwali, SAD’s halqa in-charge, holds the real power in the area.
Voter speak
No development has been done in the area and no new policy made by the government for young people. I am looking for a job but there is none here in the town.
Jaspal Singh, 25, unemployed graduate
The MLA is not accessible to the residents. He prefers to work through some of his close associates. He rarely visits the villages to take stock of the situation there.
Jagdeep Singh Dhillon, 55, doctor
By the way
Often goes to pilgrimage sites
Tomorrow: Jalalabad, Kotkapura, Jaito, Rampura Phul