MLA report cards: Sukhbir Singh Badal and Joginder Singh
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Sukhbir Singh Badal,54, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Jalalabad
Education: MBA
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 76.5 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated independent candidate Hans Raj Josan by 50,246 votes
2007: Defeated Hans Raj Josan of Congress by 80,662 votes
Assembly record Deputy chief minister
Power punch SAD president; as father’s deputy, he runs the show
What next May choose to fight from two segments this time
How he performed
Sukhbir is the de facto chief minister, harping on the development plank across the state. He has been making rounds of his constituency all through his tenure, laying foundation stones and implementing works such as renovation of link roads, waterworks and community centres. Politically, he became accessible to the people cutting across caste or religion-based communities in this Rai Sikh-dominated constituency. His predecessor Sher Singh Ghubaya (now SAD MP) was known to be accessible to only Rai Sikhs. More than 90% sangat darshans of the deputy CM in Fazilka district were held in Jalalabad, where he focused on funding the villages, besides the town. Bureaucrats keep blank cheques handy at these sangat darshans.
Voter speak
Jalalabad witnessed a series of development works because Sukhbir was elected from here. We got a girls’ college, a 120-bed hospital and a flood-lit stadium.
Pawan Aggarwal, 32, businessman
The residents got say in the local as well as state administration as the deputy is our MLA. Development works, such as good roads, were carried out at a fast pace.
Sandeep Babber, 37, trader
By the way
Says he can read intentions from people’s faces
Joginder Singh, 58, Congress
Constituency: Jaitu
Education: Class 5
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 2.5 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Gurdev Singh Badal of SAD by 3,489 votes
2007: He won from Panjgrain; this segment came up later in delimitation
Assembly record
Question asked: 41
Call attention moved: 2
Power punch Rose from being a labour union leader, now district Cong chief
What next Likely to be shifted to Nihalsinghwala this time
How he performed
Residents say he rarely visits the constituency. There were people-led agitations against the lack of basic civic amenities, but he was missing in action then too. The local Congress unit that he heads remains divided into factions, further blunting his powers while being in the opposition. For failing to do even basic development, there is anti-incumbency sentiment against him. He claims that the SAD-BJP government ignored his constituency and stalled all development works. Among the people, a section also says that he worked for his own interests using the party name. But the MLA now declares he will ensure development if and when the Congress forms the next government in the state.
Voter speak
No development has been done, and the MLA never stood with the people during agitations. There were several protests against the government, but he failed to join them.
Rakesh Kumar Gocha, 40, trader
Our MLA is not accessible to the people, and never even demanded anything from the government. He kept saying that he can’t deliver because he is in the opposition.
Pargat Singh, 35, tutor
By the way
Once lived in abject poverty, now in mansion
Tomorrow: Bhucho Mandi, Bathinda-urban, Bathinda-rural, Talwandi Sabo