Amritsar: Despite failing to win any seat in the recently-concluded byelections in four assembly constituencies, BJP remains optimistic about its prospects in the upcoming municipal corporation (MC) elections and has commenced ward-wise meetings to engage with voters and actively seek backing from those outside the party cadre.
Amritsar BJP president Harwinder Singh Sandhu said that the party would be contesting all 85 wards in the civic body elections.He said BJP has already initiated ward-wise meetings to mobilise supporters and persuade non-BJP voters to back party candidates, showcasing development achievements in cities across India where the BJP holds mayoral positions.
Former Punjab BJP president and former Amritsar mayor Shwait Malik said constituencies where BJP lost byelections were primarily rural and not even semi-urban. He said BJP enjoyed strong support in urban regions. Talking about the party’s history in Amritsar, Malik said that three BJP leaders — Bakshi Ram, Subhash Sharma, and himself — have served as mayors of the city. He said that a significant number of influential BJP leaders have emerged from Amritsar, gaining prominence in national politics, adding “corporations are ours”.
Before Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) severed ties with BJP, the two parties had a clear distribution of wards in MC elections. The BJP traditionally contested 50 wards, while SAD fielded candidates in 35 wards. “Scenario has changed now. SAD is nowhere, evident from it skipping byelections. AAP is losing position despite victory in assembly elections. Yes, we will have a fight with Congress,” observed Harwinder.