JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister and three-time Congress MLA Tara Chand is facing a tough battle this time in his Chhamb seat, bordered with hostile Pakistan, as BJP is trying to capitalise Modi wave coupled by anti-incumbency factor to wrest the seat.
Apart from this, BSP, NC and PDP are threatening to play spoilsport for the Congress’ Scheduled Caste face in Jammu and Kashmir.
The seat is going to polls on 20th December.
Election fever has gripped the border constituency, with top leaders of BJP, Congress and PDP engaged in addressing public rallies, door-to-door campaigns to woo the voters.
Unlike in the past, Tara Chand is facing challenge from BJP candidate Krishen Lal, who apart from considered as an honest and grass-root level leader, is backed by “Modi wave” and anti-incumbency factor.
The Deputy Chief Minister is also facing the ire of the people of over 30 villages, situated along the Indo-Pak border and banks of the Chenab river in Pargwal sector of Chammb, which became the target of heavy Pakistani firing and also were hit by the recent floods forcing them to displace.
They allege that the State Government failed to provide them adequate compensation.
The two major elections issues in Pargwal sector, which has a population of nearly 40,000, are cross border firing and floods apart from local development and employment issues.
“We are trying to get back on the track after floods hit us in September and firing displaced us in October. We are yet to get compensation for the damage caused to agriculture land, and properties including house in floods. Our vote will be for change and for government that brings us peace and safety from firing and floods,” Surjeet Singh, a farmer in Hamirpur Kona forward belt of Pargwal sector, said. .
Another border dweller, Simrano Devi, who claims that her land with paddy was washed away in September floods, said, “We want to vote for permanent ceasefire between India and Pakistan and no firing pact. Besides that, we want a full fledged flood-channeling plan for the Chenab river to save people of 30 hamlets from annual flooding”.
10 candidates are in the fray in Chhamb constituency and it is reserved for SC.
The candidates are– Bhajan Lal (NCP), Tara Chand (INC), Janak Raj (JKNPP), Shakti Bala (NC), Krishan Lal (BJP), Madan Lal (PDP), Manoj Kumar (BSP), Subash Chander (All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party), Biru Mal and Mohinder Lal (both Independents).
As many as 72,413 voters including 36,017 males and 36,396 women will decide the fate 10 candidates at 111 polling stations in fifth and final phase of polling along with 19 other Assembly segments in Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua districts on December 20.
“I am confident that people of this border segment will vote for BJP to form the majority government, so that JK is taken to the heights of development amid peace as seen in rest of the BJP ruled state, particularly as model of governance of Modi,” Kumar said.
Kumar sought mandate from the people with a promise to first undertake measures on giving a safe life to the border residents, who are hit by Pakistan firing and floods, besides ensuring jobs and development of the areas.
However, Tara Chand, who is more focused on door-to-door and corner meetings in the constituency, claims that during 18 years as MLA, he changed the face of the constituency with development, employment, setting of top offices, flood-channeling, water, roads and power supply to each and every village.
“We have undertaken development in major way in the constituency with roads, water supply, power supply and employment to educated youth and women during the period,” he said
Chand expressed hope that he will elected as MLA of the constituency for fourth time.
Chammb constituency is traditional Congress bastion in Jammu district. It was bagged 7 times out of 9 Assembly elections by Congress and BJP came second place in 7 elections.
Tara Chand won the seat three times in 1996, 2002 and 2008 and Congress’s Madan Lal won the seat in 1983 and 1987 and Congress leaders, Diwakar Singh and C Ram won the seat in 1967 and 1972. The seat went to Independents Ram Nath in 1977 and Chajju Ram in 1962. (PTI)