A total of 74 candidates are in the fray for the upcoming Patti Municipal Corporation (MC) election, which will see voting for 25 wards. The election is scheduled to take place on a date yet to be announced by the State Election Commission.
Major Parties and Candidates
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates for all 25 wards, while the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress have also put up their nominees. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has allied with the SAD for this election. Several independent candidates are also contesting.
Key Contests
In Ward 1, AAP's candidate will face off against SAD-BJP alliance nominee and a Congress candidate. Ward 5 has a triangular contest among the three major parties. Some wards have multiple independents making the fight interesting.
The election is being closely watched as it is the first MC election in Patti after the delimitation of wards. The number of wards has been increased from 21 to 25, giving representation to new areas.
Campaigning and Issues
Campaigning has picked up pace with candidates going door-to-door. Key issues include sanitation, water supply, road conditions, and street lighting. The AAP is banking on its development work, while the SAD-BJP alliance is highlighting the alleged failures of the state government. Congress is promising better civic amenities.
The election is expected to be a litmus test for the AAP government in Punjab, which came to power in 2022. The results will be announced after the counting of votes.
