Muktsar, September 11: More than half of the candidates who filed their nominations to contest the Zila Parishad elections in Muktsar district are either illiterate or having educational qualification up to matric or even below.
A perusal of the records procured from the district administration revealed that 18 out of total 70 candidates were illiterate and 20 others were matriculate and below.
There are just 12 candidates who are graduates, including one MA, BEd, one BA, LLB and one BArch.
Among the prominent faces, Manjinder Singh Bittu, elder son of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, and his wife Lakhvir Kaur, who has filed nominations as a covering candidate for her husband, both are just Class XII passouts. Bittu is contesting from the Udekaran Zila Parishad zone.
Further, Paramjit Kaur, wife of Congress MLA from the Bhucho Mandi Assembly constituency Pritam Singh Kotbhai, is just Class fiifth pass. She is contesting from the Kotbhai Zila Parishad zone.
Tejinder Singh Middukhera, a senior SAD leader from the Lambi Assembly constituency, is BA, LLB.
Amandeep, covering candidate of SAD’s Pirthi Ram from Malout village zone, is an MA, BEd. He is salso the youngest in the poll fray. SAD’s Balvir Kaur, 75, is the oldest candidate, contesting from the Fatehpur Manian zone.
As per the Census 2011, Muktsar district has 65.81 per cent literacy rate. Notably, there is no minimum educational qualification required to contest the elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state.
“Nobody sees the educational qualification of candidates. Even the role of money and muscle power is decreasing. However, political experience matters most in rural elections,” a candidate said.
Source Tribune India
