With campaigning for municipal council elections gaining momentum in Ropar district, senior leaders of the AAP, Congress and BJP have intensified their outreach programmes across towns, making urban development, civic services and allegations of poll manipulation major issues in the campaign.A total of 406 candidates are in the fray for elections to six municipal councils in the district. The highest number of candidates are contesting from Nangal municipal council where 102 candidates are in the field, followed by Ropar with 94 candidates. Morinda has 63 candidates, Chamkaur Sahib 52, Kiratpur Sahib 48, and Anandpur Sahib 47.AAP Focuses on civic services, digital grievance redressalPunjab Education and Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains has taken charge of the AAP campaign in the Anandpur Sahib assembly segment and has been conducting door-to-door campaigning in Nangal, Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib towns.During his campaign, Bains has been asking residents to register their grievances and development demands through a web-based application launched by him. The minister has been assuring people of time-bound redressal of civic issues through the application.“I have created an application for people to register grievances and demands related to their respective areas. Once a grievance is registered, we will provide a deadline by which it will be resolved,” Bains has been telling residents during interactions.Bains is also projecting his recent appointment as Local Government Minister as an advantage for urban constituencies under his influence.Congress battles infighting, raises poll manipulation allegationsThe Congress, which earlier controlled most municipal councils in Ropar district, is making aggressive efforts to retain its political ground amid allegations that the ruling AAP was attempting to influence the elections through administrative means.However, the Congress campaign in Ropar municipal council has suffered a setback due to internal factionalism. The party failed to field candidates in all 21 wards of the council, weakening its prospects in the town.Senior Congress leader and former Speaker of Punjab Assembly KP Rana has taken lead of campaigning in Nangal, Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has been campaigning in Chamkaur Sahib and Morinda areas.Congress leaders have been accusing the AAP government of stalling development in urban areas of Ropar district by not releasing adequate funds to municipal councils.Some Congress leaders have alleged that sections of the administration were supporting the ruling party in the elections.BJP attempts revival in Anandpur Sahib beltThe BJP is attempting to revive its organisational base in the Anandpur Sahib assembly constituency, where it earlier enjoyed considerable influence in municipal councils of Nangal, Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib during the tenure of former minister Madan Mohan Mittal.The BJP campaign in these towns is currently being spearheaded by party state vice-president Subhash Sharma, who has also been conducting door-to-door campaigning.Party leaders claim that Sharma has helped in bringing together rival factions within the BJP ahead of the municipal polls. The BJP is focusing its campaign on promises of securing centrally sponsored projects for urban infrastructure and civic development in towns of the district.The party has also been attacking the AAP government over alleged non-release of funds to municipal councils, claiming that shortfall of financial support from the state government had impacted development works and civic amenities in urban areas.