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MLA report cards: Sikander Singh Maluka and Mantar Singh Brar
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Sikander Singh Maluka,67, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Rampura Phul
Education: Class 10
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 5 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Gurpreet Singh Kangar of Congress by 5,136 votes
2007: Lost to Gurpreet Singh Kangar of Congress by 2,259 votes
Assembly record Minister for rural development
Power punch Protégé of CM Badal; has youth brigade’s muscle power
What next Likely to again contest from Rampura Phul
How he performed
Nearly Rs 18 crore have been spent on civic work, of which Rs 26 lakh was spent on rural medical dispensaries, while 638km new roads were laid. Additionally, Rs 22 crore were spent on providing canal water supply to farms, and new water supply lines were laid in residential areas. The state’s second veterinary college and hospital at a cost of Rs 70 crore was set up here on 62 acres. The MLA also got a girls’ college under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee opened here, besides a a sports wing and hostel in Maluka village. Six power grids were set up to boost electricity supply, while around 4,500 new tubewell connections were given in the past one year. When he was education minister, he was accused of scams in purchase of books and lab kits. His portfolio was later changed.
Voter speak
Villages have got better drainage, solar lights and interlocking tiles. The minister’s staff consults village panchayats before carrying out any development work in the area.
Gurbachan Singh, 65, farmer
Party affiliation gets utmost importance as Akali workers enjoy unbridled power. He carried out development, but was accessible only if approached through local SAD men.
Krishan Ram, 42, commission agent
By the way
Carries books on religion, history on overseas trips
Mantar Singh Brar, 52, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Kotkapura
Education: Post-Graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 7.6 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Ripjit Singh Brar of Congress by margin of 18,186 votes
2007: Lost to Ripjit Singh Brar of Congress by 10,810 votes
Assembly record
Question asked: 0
Call attention moved: 2
Power punch Son of former senior SAD leader Jaswinder Singh Brar
What next Party might change his seat owing to local anti-incumbency
How he performed
The MLA claims a lot of development took place in the last five years, and particularly mentions that Kotkapura was made a sub-division during his tenure. Earlier, less than half of the town was covered by the sewerage, and now work on the remaining is on. Three Suwidha Kenders were formed. Work on the railway overbridge on the Faridkot- Kotkapura road has been allotted. This bridge was a long- pending demand of the residents. Yet, there remain questions over his success in maintaining civic amenities. The traffic chaos remains a major problem too. There is a strong local anti-incumbency wave against him, and people are particularly unhappy since he is from the ruling party and yet could not meet expectations.
Voter speak
No development work has been done in the area, and traffic is a big problem for the residents. Our MLA was never available for the residents of the constituency.
Kuldeep Singh, 35, shopkeeper
The MLA is simply not accessible to the residents of the area. He prefers to live in Chandigarh and enjoy his life with the high and mighty.Sarabjeet Singh, 45, farmer
By the way
Loves to collect watches and shoes
Tomorrow: Bhucho Mandi, Bathinda-urban, Bathinda-rural, Talwandi Sabo
