2014 Lok Sabha Election -Punjab To Have Single Phase Polling on April 30,2014

 The Election Commission of India(ECI)have announced on Wednesday March 05,2014 a 9-phase polling for the 16th Lok Sabha Election scheduled to be held between April 07 -May 12,2014

 

The Election Commission of india(ECI)have announced Single Phase polling for the 13 constituencies of Rajasthan on April 30,2014

 

Phase 7 Wednesday April 30,2014 - Punjab - 13 seats

In 2012, the SAD-BJP alliance had scripted history by winning a second consecutive term in the Punjab Assembly elections - the first for any party in the northern state. But the post-2012 period has not been rosy for the Badals.

The anti-incumbency factor against the SAD-BJP state government is at a high in the state. Unfulfilled promises have resulted in resentment among the voters - be it senior citizens, youths, employees or businessmen. 

During the last six years, Punjab's poor financial health has been reflected many times when the salaries and pensions were delayed for months together and the state government was compelled to mortgage buildings.

The state's debt has touched the one lakh crore-mark - the highest in the country. More than one lakh small and medium industrial units have closed in Punjab.

''The Akali Dal-BJP government has ruined the state. We had won eight seats last time and we are going to will all 13 seats this time," senior Congress leader and in-charge for Punjab affairs, Shakeel Ahmad said

Another issue that is likely to benefit the Congress and the AAP is unemployment

The number of jobless, the Opposition parties claim, has touched the 65 lakh-mark. Adding to the headache of the Punjab government, the backlog of jobs reserved for Dalits has also not been filled up from a long time.

 

The biggest failure of the SADBJP government is to check the rampant drug menace in the state. Drug seizures are common in the state, and so are allegations of Akali leaders links with drug mafia.

The issue of drug addiction and smuggling, which Akali Dal avoided for a long time, was ironically raked up by its ally BJP and former DGP (jails) Shashi Kant.

The retired IPS officer had taken the names of two Cabinet ministers and one chief parliamentary secretary among others who were allegedly patronising drug peddling in the state.

Lapping up the drug issue, the AAP candidates have been vocal against the Akalis in their poll rallies. 

Chief Minister Parkash Singh's son-inlaw and Cabinet minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon has admitted that the drug controversy will badly affect the SAD's prospects. 

Political observers said the Aam Aadmi Party may win a seat or two. The party has cautiously chosen its candidates with clean image.

Those expected to open the party's account in Punjab are Bhagwant Mann from Sangrur and H. S. Phoolka from Ludhiana.

The Congress in Punjab is facing trouble from dissenters in as many as 11 of the total 13 Lok Sabha seats.

Barring senior leaders and Congress nominees from Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib, Amarinder Singh and Ambika Soni, the remaining party candidates, are facing a visible threat from disgruntled insiders and leaders.

State Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa is not getting support from three party MLAs whose constituencies are part of the Gurdaspur constituency

Youth/Senior citizens in Punjab could swing the election 

The state has over 30 lakh voters who are above 60 years of age. 

Also, there are around 13 lakh voters who are above 70.

At 43 lakhs, the total number of senior citizens comes close to the 46.66 lakh young voters (between 20-29 years).

Wooing the elderly for the Lok Sabha elections will be a tall task for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance as the state government has failed to keep the promise of enhancing the social security pension. 

The state has more than 9.50 lakh social security pensioners, including widows, the physically challenged and senior citizens, who are just being paid a monthly pension of Rs 250.

The promise to increase the pension from Rs 250 per month to Rs 400 was first made in the 2007 manifesto.
When the government failed to fulfil the promise, it was again made part of the 2012 manifesto. 

The beneficiaries were then promised Rs 500 per month. Doubling the pension would be a tough task as the old amount is also not paid on time. 

THe Government tried to bring a policy document in this regard and the Cabinet had also cleared the decision to enhance the pensions, but it was rolled back later.

Another important section of voters that the ruling combine cannot ignore is the youth.

There are 4.85 lakh young voters in the age group of 18-19 years in Punjab.
The number of voters between 20- 29 is 46.66 lakh.
To woo this crucial segment, the SAD had in the last election manifesto promised free tablet PCs to students.
But it hasn't been fulfilled till date.
Another major promise which was made in 2012 and not kept is the unemployment allowance.
The Akali Dal had promised to pay a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to 3.39 lakh registered unemployed youths.

With promises made to both the elderly and the youth unfulfilled, the SAD-BJP combine has to work hard to swing the votes of the crucial segments in its favour

  Kirron Kher(BJP) vs Pawan Bansal(INC)vs Gul Panag(AAP)in Chandigarh

 

It is going to be a star studded contest in Chandigarh as two Bollywood actors Kirron Kher and Gul Panag are set to contest from the seat. While Kher is the BJP's candidate, Gul Panag will fight on AAP's seat. Also in the fray is former railway minister Pawan Bansal.