Local body polls: SAD-BJP banking on development projects

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The SAD and the BJP are banking on the development projects, including the Heritage Street, implemented in the city during its government in Punjab for a win in the December 17 municipal elections here.
Elections to three municipal corporations -- Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala -- and municipal councils and nagar panchayats is scheduled on December 17.
BJP leaders, including Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, former BJP state chief Kamal Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP Shawet Malik, former minister Anil Joshi, are focusing their poll campaigns on the Heritage Street at the Golden Temple, the BRTS project and other development works.
"The heritage street is one of the best projects undertaken at this scale by any government. Our government gave this project and it is a delight to pilgrims and visitors descending upon the city," said Chhina as he canvassed for BJP candidates.

The present Congress dispensation has "failed" to bring any projects. Development works, too, are at standstill, he alleged.
Chhina accused the Amarinder Singh government for misusing the government machinery for the local body polls and claimed that staff and officials were "threatening" people to vote.

The SAD and the BJP has a history of waging battles for public rights. They would continue doing so and not come under any "official pressure" from the government, he said.
The Congress came into power on "false" promises that it made to the people, and now the public feel "cheated" as development "seems last on the priority list" of the government, Chhina alleged.

Former Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma also lashed out at the Amarinder Singh government, alleging that it was befooling
people with "false" promises.