Several self-proclaimed candidates have launched early campaigns across Nabha in Patiala district. This political activity is happening even though the term of the Nabha municipal council has not expired yet. The State Election Commission has not announced any schedule for the civic polls so far.
Campaigning Starts Without Formal Announcements
Despite the absence of formal party announcements or ticket allotments, party aspirants and independent contenders are already active. They have started door-to-door outreach and social media campaigns. These efforts aim to consolidate support ahead of the elections, which are expected after the council's term ends next month.
Ward No. 10: Bansal Family's Early Push
In Ward No. 10, Bhuvesh Bansal launched an active campaign. He is projecting his wife, Nisha Bansal, as a probable candidate of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. The party has not made any official declaration about this.
Bansal put up flex boards featuring his wife as the candidate. These boards also include photographs of AAP leaders. The leaders shown are chief minister Bhagwant Mann, party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, minister Aman Arora and Nabha MLA Dev Mann.
Bhuvesh Bansal contested unsuccessfully from another ward in 2016 as an independent candidate. He said the current ward is without a councillor. The elected representative died six months ago.
Claiming backing from the sitting AAP MLA, Bansal explained their decision to begin campaigning early. "The municipal council's term is ending by the February-end. Since elections may be announced anytime, we have started campaigning early. Though the party has not officially announced candidates yet, we have been assured support," he said.
Asked about the possibility of not receiving a party ticket, Bansal remained determined. He said they would contest the elections regardless of the party's decision.
Independent Candidates Join the Fray
Independent candidates are also joining the early campaigning. Some are opting for social media to amplify their presence. In Ward No. 23, 50-year-old Harvinder Singh is making his first attempt at electoral politics. He is drawing attention to civic and environmental issues.
Harvinder Singh was inspired by the farmers' agitation. He was associated with protests against the discharge of untreated urban wastewater into Kartar Colony village. He alleged that this practice pollutes groundwater. It leads to serious health concerns, including cancer, in several areas.
"I have made up my mind to contest the upcoming civic polls. The change people voted for earlier has not translated into visible improvement on the ground," he said.
Referring to the previous elections, Harvinder noted that an independent candidate from the ward had won. That candidate later joined the ruling AAP. However, residents did not see any tangible benefit from this change.
Premature Campaigning Raises Eyebrows
With no official election notification yet, the premature campaigning is raising eyebrows. It reflects heightened political activity at the grassroots level. Aspirants are racing to establish visibility and voter connect ahead of the formal start of the municipal election process.
AAP Nabha MLA Gurdev Singh Dev Mann could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts. This lack of official response adds to the uncertainty surrounding these early campaigns.
