INDIA
Kirron Kher, the sitting MP of Chandigarh, is looking for re-election against four-time MP and former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency is the lone parliamentary seat in the Chandigarh and covers the entire Union Territory. Kirron Kher, the sitting MP of Chandigarh, is looking for re-election against four-time MP and former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
Bansal won from Chandigarh in 1991, 1999, 2004 and 2009. He had twice defeated senior lawyer and BJP leader Satya Pal Jain in 1991, 2004 and 2009. He held various ministerial portfolios in two UPA terms under the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was at the centre of a controversy in May 2013 after his nephew was arrested for allegedly taking cash for a post in the Ministry of Railways, a department Bansal was holding at the time.
His nephew Vijay Singla was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 89,68,000. The cash was allegedly seized by the CBI from the office of Singla n a bribery and corruption case related to appointments at top positions in the railways.
Bansal was later asked by the Congress party to resign even though the CBI, which was investigating the matter, failed to find any evidence linking him to the scandal. He was renominated by the party to contest from Chandigarh against BJP's Kirron Kher and AAP's Gul Panag.
Kher, in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, had won from Chandigarh seat by defeating Bansal with a margin of 69,642 votes. While Kher won the election by securing 1.91 lakh votes, Bansal and Panag received 1.21 lakh and 1.08 lakh votes respectively.
This election, the BJP has renominated Kirron Kher from Chandigarh despite opposition from local party unit. Harmohan Dhawan, who won the seat in 1989 on a Janata Dal, is AAP candidate. Polling to Chandigarh parliamentary constituency will take place on May 19.
Kher says she is banking on the "Modi wave" and her work as an MP from Chandigarh to sail through the contest to win the seat for the second consecutive term. She has blamed Bansal for doing "nothing" for Chandigarh and promised to bring the city to the top position in cleanliness and sanitation.
"What has he done for the city? Compare five years of my performance and his 15 years. He did nothing... He does not have any intention to work," Kher claimed.
"I have a clean image and on the other hand, the entire country knows his image. It is my city and my hometown. I have done a lot of work here...I have been a vocal MP. I did not act in films for five years," she told PTI.
Kher shared her vision for the next five years for 'the city beautiful', as it is popularly known, saying she wanted to convert government schools into English medium, promote solar projects and make the city a start-up hub on the lines of Silicon Valley, home to global technology companies.
Exuding confidence about her victory, she said, "There is a factor of the Modi wave and also the work I carried out in the city in the past five years." Listing out her achievements, Kher said she had worked for every sector, including health and education, and pointed out that the upper age limit in government jobs was raised from 25 to 37 years.
To solve the growing problem of traffic congestion in the city, Kher batted for bringing in rapid transit system, monorail and mini buses.
She dismissed Bansal's idea of bringing in the metro rail as "non-feasible", saying a huge financial outlay is needed for its implementation.
"What was stopping him from bringing the metro here? He knew the metro could not come here as engineers did not recommend it for a city like Chandigarh," she said, adding that the project, if implemented, would lead to demolition of several markets.
On Bansal's remark of "restoring lost glory of Chandigarh, Kher said when the Congress candidate was an MP, the maximum number of slum colonies came up in the city.
"We started an exercise of resettling them under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana," she said.
Cleanliness, bringing metro service to ease traffic congestion and job creation were highlights of the manifesto released by Congress candidate Bansal.
He said the manifesto for Chandigarh aims at restoring the glory and prestige of the city.
"The Chandigarh spirit is being assailed by irregular expansion, increased traffic... inadequate parking spaces and public transportation system.
"The city suffers the ignominy of rising crime against women. We have to make it safe and create a more kind and gentle society that cares for those at risk the most," he said.
The manifesto emphasis on restoring the clean and pollution-free environment of the city, its colonies and surrounding villages, boost community parking and starting the metro service to solve the problem of traffic congestion.
The Congress candidate from Chandigarh also envisioned a crime-free city with emphasis on security for women, meaningful job creation for the youth, bringing more funds from the Centre for education, health, roads, parks and other infrastructure.
Bansal also promised that once elected, he will report real time on his website and Facebook page about issues, works and projects taken up.
(With PTI inputs)
Ahead of PM Modi-Donald Trump meet, India considers cutting tariffs on THESE items imported from US
Mumbai Police reaches Ranveer Allahbadia's home in connection to India's Got Latent controversy
Junaid Khan says Aamir Khan, Reena Dutta spent ‘ridongculous’ amount on his...
Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant's warm gesture towards kid wins internet, watch viral video
Ajith Kumar recalls 'bad crash’ ahead of Portugal race: ‘When I crashed...'
Samay Raina performs in Seattle, enjoys with friends amid Ranveer Allahbadia controversy
Good news for Gautam Adani as Adani stocks rally up to 4.5% due to Donald Trump's this BIG move...
Amid rumours of dissent, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal holds meeting with Punjab CM Mann, MLAs in Delhi
Woman makes 'Valentine edition parantha' for husband, netizens amused, watch viral video
How cashless treatment and telemedicine are transforming health insurance plans in India?
Top 3 astrologers of India: Newly updated list of 2025
A complete guide to documents needed for a personal loan
Mitolyn Reviews and Complaints - Mitolyn Supplement - Mitolyn Reviews Consumer Reports
Muslim wedding card goes viral for THIS bizarre reason, leaves netizens amused, check here
Surat: School students parade luxury cars to celebrate farewell, probe underway, watch viral video
Elon Musk offers this huge amount to buy ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Sam Altman says 'no thank you but...'
Pune: Pakistani currency note found in housing society near National Defence Academy; probe on
YouTube removes Ranveer Allahbadia's controversial video after Modi government's notice
Here's why Not Like Us singer Kendrick Lamar won't get paid for Super Bowl Halftime Show performance
Meet Samay Raina, creator of India's Got Latent, accused of promoting vulgarity, he is from...
Bank Holiday February 2025: Banks to remain closed in THIS state today due to...
Donald Trump issues BIG warning to Hamas, says 'all hell will break out' if...
Anil Ambani's RCap buy: Hinduja Group firm set to acquire debt-ridden Reliance Capital by THIS date
Meet man, MBA graduate from Harvard, who leads one of world’s big tech firms as CEO, he is...
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway opens, check travel time, toll fee and more
What happens during Snow Moon and when does it appear? Check dates and when to see
‘RBI’s gold buying is...’: FM Nirmala Sitharaman talks about rising gold reserves by central bank
Meet the Muslim king all set to challenge Donald Trump over Gaza, he is from...
Ranveer Allahbadia’s viral joke on Samay Raina's India's Got Latent was stolen! The original was...
THIS Indian billionaire carries coffin of his employee, netizens call him ‘true leader’
Days after Jeet Adani-Diva Shah's marriage, Gautam Adani set to spend Rs 6000 crore on...
'Please let me stay the night:' Female trainee asked to leave Infosys premises at 6 pm even after...
Auto driver’s son studies at IIT, but luxury hotel refuses his auto's entry, billionaire calls it...
Who is Kuldeep Sharma? Ex-IPS gets three-month jail term in...
Meet woman, who lived in village, later got job at Amazon, now working in US as...
Beef Biryani Row Explained: Police file FIR day after incident at AMU; here's what happened
Meet Anant Ahuja, Sonam Kapoor's brother-in-law who reportedly got Rs 6.56 cr by USAID
BIG move by Mukesh Ambani, launches Rs 10 product with former cricket star, it is...
Car gets stuck in wheat field in the dead of night, know what Google Maps error caused later
The Chabahar Puzzle: India’s Connectivity Dreams in US-Iran Turmoil
Delhi: Girls showcase their skills, strength in netball, Aali and Lal Kuan emerge winners
Elon Musk reacts to UK MP’s demand to replace 'Bengali' signboard at London Station, check here
Anupam Mittal's unique gift to Gautam Adani's son Jeet Adani will leave you in splits
Man dies after being sexually assaulted in Delhi, one arrested, this is what happened
After Deepinder Goyal's Zomato, here is the list of Indian companies that recently rebranded
Life Insurance Quotes Explained: Guide to securing your family’s financial future
Winter Essentials: Must-have home appliances to keep you warm, cozy
'Ishq Na Kario' Releases: Abhishek Kumar takes his first step in cinema
Roadmap to building Rs 5 crore retirement corpus with NPS
Sri Lanka suffers nationwide power outage due to monkey, know what exactly happened
Fatima Sana Shaikh makes this BIG claim about male actors, says, 'If Shah Rukh Khan...'
The Visionary Behind Modern Data Platforms: Shreesha Hegde’s blueprint for industry success
Sam Nujoma passes away at 95: Know all about Namibia's fiery freedom fighter and first president
'Jahan Kaam, Wahan hum': PM Modi pitches leadership mantra to students during Pariksha Pe Charcha
Raheja Developer's 42-floor The Leela Sky Villas to bring ultra-luxury to Central West Delhi