Punjab Assembly Polls: Ferozepur Urban at a glance
Harish Monga
Ferozepur, January 31, 2022: Ferozepur Urban constituency was constituted in 1952. Since then, ten candidates from Congress and six from BJP have been elected in this assembly segment located along the India-Pakistan border.
Interestingly, the Ferozepur Urban never had a woman MLA. For the last two terms, Parminder Singh Pinky is MLA in Ferozepur Urban.
For this Assembly Polls 2022, Congress has against filed the incumbent Parminder Singh Pinky.
The other candidates in the fray are Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi from BJP, who was a four-time Congress MLA from Guruharsahai but is considered as a weak point for him being a 'parachute' candidate
SAD too has fielded Rohit Vohra alias Montu Vohra. He too is a new parachute candidate and there had been controversy in the party on this issue.
Similarly, AAP had fielded first-time candidate Ranbir Singh Bhullar. He too is from Ferozepur Rural and lacks grip over the voters.
However, it is going to be a multi-cornered contest in Ferozepur Urban and Rural constituencies.
With the entry of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), BJP, and SAD partying ways, and fielding of parachute candidates, the election is going to be more interesting and tough as well.
The winning margin will be considerably reduced.
Apart from Congress, both SAD and BJP candidates are from Guruharsahai. While Rana Sodhi has recently joined BJP after he was dropped from the cabinet rank in Congress Government, Rohit Vohra too from Guruharsahi is the first time contender for Assembly elections.
There are 7,14,685 electors as per the final list in District Ferozepur in four constituencies – Zira, Ferozepur Urban, Ferozepur Rural, and Guruharsahai with 3,75,845 ale, 3,38,825 female and 15 transgender.
In Zira, 1,85,711 voters – 98,124 male, 87,585 female and 2 transgender, In Ferozepur Urban, 1,68,863 voters – 89,355 male, 79,503 female and 5 transgender, in Ferozepur Rural, 1,93,321 voters – 1,01,585 male, 91,734 female and 4 transgender and in Guruharsahai 1,66,790 voters – 86,783 male, 80,003 female and 4 transgender.
Voter’s expectations: 9 years on, the PGI Satellite Centre is yet to come up. The residents in the event of an emergency have to move to far-off places for treatment.
Law and order control and of course, the best sewerage system which choked during the rainy season. Opening of Hussainiwala border like Wagah border. Setting up of some industrial units to absorb the local youths.
Agenda: Development is the main agenda with special focus on health facilities – setting up of PGI Satellite Centre for which the Foundation Stone could not be laid by the Prime Minister rather a security breach issue cropped up as PM has to go back after 20 minutes waiting at the flyover near Piarana, just 10 km from Ferozepur. This time, the reopening of the Hussainiwala border is no more a priority for parties.
Concern: Though it is going to be a multi-cornered contest this time with four major parties – Congress, BJP, SAD, and AAP along with Sanjha Sayunkt Morcha and Independent candidates in the field – with the use of personal influence by all the candidates irrespective of any political parties yet Parachute candidates is a major concern of locals, the benefit of which is likely to go to the other candidates having their good vote bank.