Aparna Banerji
Surrounded by constituencies which are either Akali or Congress bastions traditionally, the reserved constituency of Phagwara has been swinging the BJP way for the past three terms. The dynamics changed only in the last byelections where the BJP received its first major setback with the Congress candidate securing a win.
Past trend
The seat remained with the BJP for three consecutive terms until 2019, when the Congress won the byelections. In 2007, BJP’s Swarna Ram won, and in 2012 and 2017, Som Parkash secured a win. The Congress won the seat from 1980 to 2002, except in 1997.
Electorate strength
Total voters 1,89,744
Male 99,930
Female 89,806
Third gender 8
Locals’ key demands
- Phagwara be declared district
- Better traffic management
- Setting up of govt college
- Upgrade of health services
With 50 per cent rural population from the Dalit community and Hindu voters being concentrated in urban areas, the dynamics have been key determinants of Phagwara’s electoral destiny.
The demand for the industrial town to be made a separate district is among the key issues of residents. The Municipal Corporation is riddled with sanitation woes. Perpetual traffic jams in its main bazaars and lack of adequate staff in local government primary schools are among the key concerns of voters.
Keshav Kumar, a resident, said, “Phagwara is cut off from Kapurthala by 45 km. Residents have to take hour-long journeys to the district headquarters for basic needs. It is high time Phagwara is declared a separate district. The dangerous highway near the sugar mills at the entry point of the town and the heavily jammed main markets are perpetual bottlenecks for commuters.”
Industrial town wants dist status
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