MLA report card: Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Balvir Singh Ghunas
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal,71, Congress
Constituency: Lehra
Education: Graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 3 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated SAD candidate Sukhwant Singh by 3,355 votes
2007: Defeated SAD’s Prem Singh Chandumajra by 248 votes
Assembly record
Questions asked: 11
Call attention moved: 3
Power punch Daughter of a freedom fighter, she is a former chief minister
What next Wants to contest again, and wants another ticket for her kin
How she performed
Bhattal says she has completed 217 development projects of varying sizes in her constituency. These include 10 bridges, besides linking two villages that had not received irrigation facility since Independence with the Bhakra canal. She arranged irrigation for 37 other villages. Moonak became a sub-division in her tenure. The constituency got two new hospitals and seven colleges. However, the civic situation remains deplorable in several pockets. Residents say, despite her winning several terms, she has not come up to their hopes. Bhattal also staged protests in the assembly on drugs, police misuse, and the policies of the SAD-BJP government. Her segment saw a significant number of farmer suicides and caste-based disputes, but she calls it all a result of “anti-people” polices of the state government.
Voter speak
She rarely visits Lehra, but now that elections are near, she is holding meetings with people. She has no development agenda but convinces people with emotional cards.
Aman Singla, 35, furniture-maker
She improved the health sector and educational institutes. Children are getting higher education in technical colleges too. She arranged old-age pension for senior residents.
Gurnam Singh, 40, tailor
By the way
Known for lavish expenditure on official house
Balvir Singh Ghunas, 58,Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Dirba (SC)
Education: Primary
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 1.1 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Ajaib Singh Ratol of Congress by 6,874 votes
2007: He won Bhadaur; Surjit Singh Dhiman of Congress won this seat
Assembly record
Questions asked: 0
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Panthic background, was close to Harchand Singh Longowal
What next Ticket not assured as faces opposition from within party in area
How he performed
Even the workers of the SAD are not happy with his performance. The people of the area have been facing problems due to lack of quality education and health services for long. Also, there are poor sewerage system and dilapidated link roads. However, he claims his government has spent `100 crore on development projects, including those for water supply, sewerage, roads and health services. He has got built a government hospital in Dirba and a flyover in Chhajli village. Some schools have been upgraded during his tenure. The MLA counts provision of sewerage, but civic amenities in the area are in a bad shape. The region is known for agriculture and agriculture-based labour, but farmers have committed suicide in the area and labourers have staged protests for employment.
Voter speak
He prefixes ‘Sant’ to his name but he never performed as a saint. He was absent for four years and started meetings only this year. He has done nothing to tackle the drug menace.
Darshan Singh, 50, farmer
He has built some roads and a flyover, but that is not enough. The people were hoping for a lot more, and he has not fulfilled his promises. Corruption was on a high during his tenure.
Amrik Singh, 62, labourer
By the way
Reads and writes religious verses
Tomorrow: Abohar, Barnala, Mehal Kalan, Malerkotla