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| Poll boycott by Sikhs likely to `orphan' Bhalla | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 30: The poll boycott threat by Sikh organization against the alleged anti-Sikh policies of the NC led coalition government is bound to hurt Gandhi Nagar MLA and cabinet minister Raman Bhalla than to NC. The Congress minister has been able to secure win in two consecutive terms.
Guru Manyo Granth Society, an umbrella organistation of Sikhs, have in a statement issued said government has failed to give due share to the community in its five-year of governance and it has hurt the community.
Even though Sikhs constitute miniscule electoral population in most parts of the State, but in the Gandhi Nagar constituency they have a sizeable vote. In the past also Sikh candidates have won from this constituency. In fact in the 2002 elections also, Congress party was reluctant to give seat to Raman Bhalla and was keen to give it to Sikh candidate fearing that it may antagonize the community.
Though Raman Bhalla won but he could do so only with support of Sikhs. But now with the second term in office, he is ignoring the other sections of society. People of constituency have often complained that the cabinet minister has at number of times refused to get their work done stating that they will not vote for him.
Bhalla has been constantly trying to appease and patronage Sikh voters. But with this community also turning its back, the political future of Bhalla seems uncertain. .
NC didn't stand to lose with the boycott threat and it has off late not caring much about this constituency. But since both parties are in coalition, the activists of NC have with the help of goons grabbed large chunk of land.
This has further angered the voters of this constituency as Bhalla despite earlier being a Cabinet minister has refused to take any action. People have often complained that when Bhalla was the revenue minister, at number of times complaints of land grabbing but they didn't act.
Even when his ministry was shifted he failed to act.
Bhalla has been only concentration in certain pockets and has been virtually ignoring Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Channi localities. There has not been much development here in comparison to other localities.
In the last elections also he managed to win by a whisker and could secure win only because a sizeable voters of these colonies voted for him. But now with voters of these colonies annoyed, Sikhs threatening to boycott and popularity of Cong already low, the political fortune of Bhalla doesn't look bright anymore.
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