SAD MULLS RS 60 CR FOR EACH CONSTITUENCY

Chandigarh, For the ruling Akali Dal-BJP alliance, politics and governance in Punjab is now clearly steering towards the next Assembly election, scheduled to be held in 2017.
Launching membership drives, building their cadre strength and focusing on fulfilling promises made in their respective election manifestos, the ruling alliance partners are going all out to connect with the voters, albeit separately. Leaders in both parties remain non-committal on going their separate ways in the next election, but each is now focusing on all 117 constituencies, rather than just their traditional strongholds and leaving enough political space for the other — a coalition dharma maintained till the last Assembly elections.
As BJP flexes its muscles and has launched a “Connect” or Maha Jansampark Abhiyan in all 117 Assembly segments, the Akalis are not to be left behind. They are also going full throttle with their youth wing’s membership drive. Having almost complete say in initiating development works, the party leadership is ready with a plan to spend Rs 50-60 crore in each of the 117 Assembly constituencies.
The recently imposed cess on fuel and power will help the government generate Rs 1,500 crore per annum. Over the next two years, the Akali leadership hopes to collect Rs 3,000 crore through the cess while the government is also trying to arrange for a loan of Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,000 crore, which would be distributed “constituency-wise” for spending on providing water supply, sewerage, cemented streets and mechanised cleanliness system along other basic amenities in both urban and rural constituencies, on a 60:40 ratio.
Akali Dal secretary Daljit Cheema said the government was focusing on development. All achievable targets had been listed and efforts were on to ensure that these development works were completed by March next year, and all election promises fulfilled, he said. “We are also finding ways to ensure that governance and service delivery improves and people get relief,” he said. The government was exploring ways and means to fund these development works, even if it meant imposing new taxes, he added.
The BJP’s state unit, however, maintains that “money alone cannot win over voters”. Party leaders say their main strength has always been their strong cadre base and they are now working to ensure that the party’s cadre strength grows from the present 25,000 to 5 lakh. The Punjab BJP secretary, who is heading the prashikshan abhiyan (training programme) to be started for newly enrolled members, says they have identified 60 leaders, who will interact with all newly enrolled members, judging their strengths and then deploying them in various capacities.
Through its membership drive in the state, the BJP managed to enroll 23 lakh voters. The Akalis also launched the Youth Akali Dal membership drive and claimed they were “getting a good response”. Leaders say unlike the BJP that enrolled anyone who dialled a particular number, they are more cautious and their workers are going from village to village to enroll members, verify their antecedents and then issue them party ID cards.