In a significant political upset in Punjab's Sangrur district, independent candidate Malwinder Singh, popularly known as 'Mala', secured a decisive victory in a block samiti election. This win comes despite facing serious allegations from a ruling party legislator in the run-up to the polls.
A Surprise Victory Against the Tide
On Wednesday, Malwinder Singh Mala emerged victorious in the block samiti election for the Jhaneri zone, which falls under the Bhawanigarh block. He won by a margin of 101 votes, a clear mandate from the local electorate. The outcome was particularly striking for the performance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), whose official nominee could only manage a fourth-place finish.
The results placed the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate in second position, with the Indian National Congress candidate finishing third. The AAP's distant fourth-place finish has been interpreted as a clear signal of voter pushback against the party's campaign strategy in the constituency.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations
The election campaign was marked by intense accusations. In the days leading to the vote, on December 11, AAP MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj launched a sharp attack on the independent candidate while canvassing in Jhaneri village. She alleged that Mala had links to the drug trade, stating that an associate of his had been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for possession of poppy husk.
Bharaj further suggested that Mala had previously benefited from connections with the AAP government before deciding to contest as an independent against the party's official candidate. She urged voters to remain loyal to AAP and labeled such independents as "wrong elements" associated with drugs and the illicit liquor trade.
Mala firmly rejected these allegations, calling them politically motivated. He clarified that no criminal case exists against him personally. He explained that the NDPS case referenced by the MLA involved a former employee who had left his service nearly a decade ago and had no current connection to him.
Credibility and Counterattack
To bolster his credibility, Malwinder Singh Mala highlighted his previous tenure as the sarpanch of Jhaneri village. He pointed to the development works carried out during his leadership as concrete proof of his commitment to the community.
In a counter-allegation, Mala claimed that the AAP-backed candidate in the fray was himself facing multiple criminal cases, including those related to liquor smuggling. This tit-for-tat exchange defined the bitter tone of the election campaign.
Following his victory, a thankful Mala said, "I am thankful to the voters who had daringly supported me and shown confidence in me." The election result has proven embarrassing for the AAP, indicating that its campaign narrative failed to resonate with the voters of the Jhaneri zone. The win by an independent candidate, despite the serious charges leveled by a sitting MLA, underscores a complex political dynamic at the grassroots level in Punjab.
