E-Paper
MLA report cards: Surinder Dawar and Charanjit Atwal
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punajb MLAs and their performance:
Surinder Kumar Dawar,65, Congress
Constituency: Ludhiana Central
Education: Class 10
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 16.7 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Satpal Gosain of the BJP by 7,196 votes
2007: Lost to Satpal Gosain from Ludhiana (East); this seat came up later in delimitation
Assembly record
Question asked: 8
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Two-time MLA, strong among business community
What next Likely to get the Congress ticket again
How he performed
He claims he is easily accessible; is considered close to the business community in Ludhiana. He got Rs 15 lakhs sanctioned from the MPLAD funds for provisions of garden gyms in three different parks. He also worked for the installation of 25 tubewells in his area. Unlike many other politicians, he answers his mobile phone himself. He also got removed high-tension electricity wires that posed a major risk in Kila Mohalla. He has been supporting industrialists in their protest against shifting of small-scale industry to outer city from residential areas. He claimed he got funds sanctioned from the Centre for covering the Ganda Nullah but till date a part of the nullah is uncovered. Problems of encroachments, sewerage and waterlogging remain..
By the way
Starts the day with a two-hour ‘puja’
Voterspeak
I connected with him on Facebook and he readily gave me an appointment, and was willing to help. Bad roads is a problem and nothing has been done on that in five year, Chetan Sharma, 30, businessman said.
He stands by people in their hour of need, whenever and wherever, but has not been able to do much as the government did not support him, Dharam Chand, 76, retd govt employee said.
Charanjit Singh Atwal, 78, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency Payal (SC)
Education Law graduate
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 3.3 cr
Electoral record
2012: Won by 634 votes defeating Lakhvir Singh Lakha of the Congress
2007: Did not contest, Tej Parkash Singh of Congress won this seat
Assembly record : Vidhan Sabha speaker
Power punch In top circles of SAD; was MP, Lok Sabha deputy speaker
What next Likely to be shifted to Raikot this time
How he performed
Atwal describes his tenure as extremely fulfilling as Payal constituency saw the opening of district courts, laying of foundation stone of a nursing college, and building of an ITI. The Vidhan Sabha speaker spent Rs 22 crore on development of villages. The full-fledged courts in Payal have benefitted the residents to a large extent who now do not have to travel all the way to Ludhiana for hearings. Four schools have been upgraded to senior secondary level. A major problem in the constituency remains that of roads and poor infrastructure. Residents feel he did not intermingle with them as frequently as he should have. Sewerage pipes were laid but the work is pending at places, resulting in heavy waterlogging during rains.
By the way
Doesn’t miss a chance to go abroad
Voterspeak
I have been working here since the last four years and potholed roads are a major problem as sewerage work is incomplete. There is no fogging in times of dengue outbreak, Karan Tandon, 37, banker said.
Our MLA has never come and met us. Lack of proper sewerage poses a major problem and it becomes very difficult in the rains to commute, Ved Parkash, 56, pesticide dealer said.
