E-Paper
MLA report cards: Deep Malhotra and Surjit Kumar Jyani
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Deep Malhotra,61, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Faridkot
Education: Class 12
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 17.3.cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Avtar Singh Brar of Congress by 2,727 votes
2007: Didn’t contest; Avtar Singh Brar won this seat for the Congress
Assembly record
Questions asked: 34
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch One of the biggest liquor barons of the state
What next Ticket not sure as party might change candidate
How he performed
The liquor baron-cum-politician says that this time too, when elections take place, he will go to the people and ask for the mandate on the basis of work done for the constituency. Indeed, work on a sewerage line and on streetlighting has begun lately. The Golewala minor canal was also constructed in his tenure, providing irrigation to more than 80,000 acres of land. However, the residents state that no major project was initiated in the area for overall development and uplift of the unemployed. A sugar mill remains defunct in the area. Waterlogging, lack of a proper sewerage, and broken roads continue to be civic hazards. Factionalism in the local SAD unit is a problem area for Malhotra, who may or may not get the chance to seek votes again.
Voter speak
His liquor business flourished but he rarely bothered to serve the people. Now, as elections are approaching, development works have begun, to woo the voters.
Jagtar Singh, 65, lawyer
Most political leaders work for themselves rather than people. Malhotra is known for being soft-spoken soft nature and non-controversial but he failed to ensure development.
Surjit Singh, 35, retired banker
By the way
In liquor trade, but claims to be teetotaller
Surjit Kumar Jyani,62, Bharatiya Janata Party
Constituency: Fazilka
Education: Class 10
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 2 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated independent candidate Jaswinder Singh Rocky by 1,692 votes
2007: Defeated Mohinder Kumar Rinwa of Congress by 16,059 votes
Assembly record Health minister
Power punch From old, staunch RSS cadre; rare rural face for the BJP
What next Likely to fight again, he remains strongest BJP leader here
How he performed
Considered aggressive, he is the health minister and dealt quite strictly with his department officials. Back in his constituency, Jyani remains a grassroots politician, often on a spree of inaugarating development works, especially in healthcare. A standout achievement is the launch of a 100-bed cancer hospital project in the town. He claims to have won over every community in his constituency, banking on separate community centres for different caste-based groups in villages. He faces strong opposition in the municipal council from the Congress. He had said he would get opened the Sadiq border with Pakistan to boost the region’s economy. This, he claims, is his only promise that remains to be fulfilled.
Voter speak
Jyani carried out his intentions for development well, but was not able to make people happy. His being non-expressive and his slips of tongue are obstacles.
Varun Gagneja, 36, forensic expert
Our MLA is a hard-working man, who has been able to deliver as health minister with the upcoming 100-bed cancer hospital. But he will have to face anti-incumbency in general.
Kanwal Sethi, 53, restaurant owner
By the way
Known for remarks such as, ‘Liquor is not nasha!’
Tomorrow: Jalalabad, Kotkapura, Jaito, Rampura Phul
