FATEHGARH SAHIB: Leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal are working  for the defeat of candidates of their own party in municipal council election in Sirhind town of district Fatehgarh Sahib.

In ward no 15 of the town  senior Akali leader Davinder Singh Bhappu's son Amritpal Singh Raju, who is close to  SAD president Sukhbir Badal is contesting election.

In the same ward another Akali leader Tarlok Singh Bajwa is also contesting election as an independent candidate. Bajwa had recently joined SAD in presence of Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti. Sources said some leaders of Bhatti faction is supporting Bajwa while some Akali leaders belongs to group of former Akali Minister Randhir Singh Cheema is supporting Raju. If  Raju managed to win the election, he  is strong contender for the post of municipal council president post.

In ward no 6 of the town, there is tough fight among Sher Singh and  Ajaib Singh .  Two times  municipal councilor Sher Singh, who had earlier served as president of Municipal Council Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib with the efforts of MLA Didar Singh Bhatti is now contesting as Independent candidate as the party had given ticket to Ajaib Singh. Sher Singh is also contesting election from ward no 3 as an independent candidate as SAD had given ticket to Rabinder Singh Rubby. Sources said that now Sher Singh is basically stressing in ward no 3.

 In ward no 4 , Yashpal Loharia, who is close to many Akali leaders is now contesting election as an independent as the party had given ticket to Gurwinder Singh Sohi.

Sources said that though SAD high command had appointed senior Akali leader Surjit Singh Rakhra to allot ticket to candidates in district Fatehgarh Sahib but Rakhra could not allot these tickets on the basis of merit due to groupism in Akalis.

As far as Sirhind is concerned, a Akali faction led by MLA Didar Singh Bhatti and other Akali faction led by Randhir Singh Cheema made their efforts to get tickets for  their supporters. Both the groups tried to get maximum son. The MLA's son Gurwinder Singh Bhatti had already won election from ward no 13 of the town as after rejection of papers of other candidates and withdrawal of papers, he is now  alone candidate in his ward.

   Around 1 lakh voters will decide the fate of 59 municipal councilors in district Fatehgarh Sahib on June 30. The district administration has deputed 510 employees for this purpose. He said  50 employees will remain present in the reserve staff.

As per information received, in 13 wards of Bassi Pathana 8 polling stations and 14 polling booths have been set up and 14006 voters will exercise their right of voting.  Two polling stations in ward no 1 and 4 have declared sensitive.

In 11 wards of Nager Panchyat, Khamano 6,368 voters will elect their 11 representatives and 6 polling stations and 11 polling booths have been set up there. Three polling stations in ward no 1, 3 and 5 have declared sensitive.

In Mandi Gobindgarh 46,320 voters will elect their 19 representatives and 25 polling stations and 40 polling booths have been set up for this purpose. 11 polling stations in ward no 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 have declared sensitive.

In 16 wards of Municipal Council-Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib 34 polling booths and 16 polling stations have been set up and around 34,000 voters will elect their 16 municipal councilors. Six polling stations set up in ward no 6, 8, 9, 14 and 15 have declared sensitive