E-Paper
MLA report cards: Tota Singh and Joginderpal Jain
Hindustan Times takes a look at Punjab MLAs and their performance:
Tota Singh, 75, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Dharamkot
Education: Class 10
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 19.2cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Sukhjit Singh Kaka Lohgarh of Congress by 4,280 votes
2007: Lost to Cong’s Joginderpal Jain by a margin of 1,395 votes from Moga
Assembly record
Questions asked: 20
Call attention moved: 1
Power punch Senior leader; close to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal
What next Likely to get the SAD ticket again from Dharamkot
How he performed
Despite allegations of corruption against him in the recruitment of 134 clerks, misuse of official car and wrongdoings in the purchase of pesticides, agriculture minister Tota Singh has managed to keep his vote bank intact in Dharamkot with a spree of development works in his constituency. Dharamkot was known as a backward area before Tota Singh won the seat and now it has got one of the best tehsil complexes, surplus electricity, a degree college and polytechnic college. However, he failed to solve the problem of stray cattle which has not only become a menace for the commuters but also for the farmers. He got a ‘gaushala’ oepned in the area, but even that didn’t help much. He regularly meets people at his home in Moga and listens to their problems..
Voter speak
We are happy with the performance of our MLA. He brought a degree college and surplus electricity to Dharamkot. Roads and sewerage still need attention.
Gagandeep Singh, 34, social worker.
His performance as an MLA in the last five years is satisfacoty. I will request him to solve the problem of stray cattle as their presence on the road leads to accidents.
Sanjeev Gupta, 40, pharmacist.
By the way
Loves greenery, spends time in his nursery
Joginderpal Jain, 70, Shiromani Akali Dal
Constituency: Moga
Education: Class 12
Assets declared in last polls: Rs 7.7 cr
Electoral record
2012: Defeated Vijay Sathi (Cong) by 18,949 votes after joining Akali Dal.
2007: Defeated PS Gill of SAD; 2007: Defeated Tota Singh of Akali Dal
Assembly record
Questions asked: 52
Call attention moved: 0
Power punch Close to deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal
What next Not interested in fighting next assembly elections.
How he performed
He is an MLA and his son Akshit Jain is Moga mayor, still turncoat Joginderpal Jain blames political rivalry within the Shiromani Akali Party (SAD) leaders for not able to do much for the segment during his tenure. Before the by-elections in 2013, he had sought votes on the promise to develop Moga, but nothing is visible on that count in the city. Urban and rural areas are equally under-developed and stray cattle are a common sight. Accidents due to stray cattle are common and many lives have been lost. He failed to even provide or upgrade the basic civic amenities such as roads, sewerage and parks to the people of his constituency. People are fast losing trust in him. He is often seen at bhogs and other social gatherings.
Voter speak
Jain changed the party for his selfish motives and got votes on the promise of development in 2013. Our MLA even failed to provide us basic civic facilities.
Suresh Sood, 51, RTI activist
I have not seen any development in Moga district for a decade. Our MLA has failed to even solve the stray cattle menace. Garbage dumps can be seen on roadsides evey few metres.
Rachit Garg, 24, student
By the way
Fond of reading religious and history books
Tomorrow: Ferozepur (urban), Guruharsahai, Jalalabad, Fazilka
