MLA report cards: Maheshinder Singh and Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Maheshinder Singh, 60, SAD
Constituency: Baghapurana
Education: Law graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 9.6 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Darshan Singh Brar of Congress by 10,574 votes
2007: Did not contest; Darshan Singh Brar won this seat for the Congress
Assembly record
Questions asked: 40
Call attention moved: 3
Power punch Money, muscle; and the legacy of father Gurcharan Singh
What next Wants the ticket again, but party may replace him
How he performed
Maheshinder tried to create a people-friendly impression of himself by listening to problems at his own sangat darshan (public meet) every Monday morning. But that faded with time, and he stopped organising these meets after eight months. He has failed to solve the major problem of the area, that is the incomplete sewerage project which was started seven years ago. However, he has carried out some basic development in his constituency, such as roads, water supply and repair of canals. He remains in touch with the people as he attends bhogs and other functions regularly. He claims credit for a government college, tehsil complex, and bus stand too.
Voter speak
He failed to cooperate with people, and, in his tenure, the SAD here remained busy with factionalism. He failed to provide sewerage, which is the main demand.
Parminder Singh, 43, social activist
Our MLA is very polite, but not fit for politics. He has failed to do any major development. We need a leader who can get funds from the government.
Gaurav Singla, 25, businessman
By the way
Loves chocolates and sweets
Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike, 39, SAD
Constituency: Nihalsinghwala
Education: Class 12
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 45 lakh
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Ajit Singh Shant of Congress by a margin of 591 votes
2007: Did not contest; Ajit Singh Shant won this seat as an independent candidate
Assembly record
Questions asked: 21
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Carries the legacy of father-in-law Jaura Singh Bhagike
What next She wants to contest again, but party may replace her
How she performed
For a change, the constituency got an MLA from the ruling party, but she failed to deliver on promises. In the first four years, no work was done as roads, sewerage and other civic amenities remained in a pathetic condition. This was reportedly due to an intra-party rift between her and agriculture minister Tota Singh. There was a proposal to construct a stadium that did not materialise due to a land dispute. However, ahead of elections the constituency got funds, and now work on roads and other basics is underway. The MLA says she has got repaired 216 km of link roads out of a total 426 km, while work on the remaining is underway. Foundation stone of a sewerage project has also been laid.
Voter speak
Our MLA has even failed to provide basic civic amenities; development is a distant dream. She remained busy with attending functions, and in intra-party rifts.
Tota Singh Dina, 30, writer
Our village didn’t even get ‘blue’ (food security) cards. Our MLA failed to do any development. I heard that our constituency recently got a grant of `1 crore, but not a penny was spent.
Chamkaur Singh Lopo, 35, shopkeeper
By the way
An aficionado of designer salwar-kameez suits
Tomorrow: Moga, Dharamkot, Zira, Ferozepur