While Left influence has largely faded across Punjab, Joga village in Mansa district continues to be a stronghold of Left ideology and grassroots political activism.All 13 wards of the Joga Nagar Panchayat are witnessing a direct contest between Communist-backed candidates with AAP nominees in nine wards, BSP two and two Independents who have tacit support of the Congress, AAP and SAD. Though candidates backed by Communists are not contesting on party symbol, they have managed to get a common “bucket” symbol.A senior AAP leader from Mansa said an unofficial arrangement had been worked out between AAP, Congress and Akali Dal at a local level to put a joint fight against Communists-backed nominees. As the Opposition candidates rake up the issue of how Left ideology got vanished with time, the Left-backed candidates explain how they had ensured equitable distribution of government funds and schemes at the grassroots.In 2015, during the SAD-BJP regime, Joga was granted the status of a nagar panchayat. Since then, the Communist-backed panel has won both municipal elections held in the village so far. Around 7,500 voters are expected to exercise their franchise on May 26. Former nagar panchayat president Gurmeet Joga expressed confidence that the Left-backed candidates would secure victory for a third consecutive term. He said unlike many villages where party symbols dominate local polls, Joga historically preferred issue-based leadership over conventional politics. He claimed that during the previous term, nearly 650 houses for poor families were constructed at a cost of Rs 14 crore.Joga village is also remembered for producing some of Punjab’s most prominent Communist leaders, including four-time MLA Jangir Singh Joga, and Surjan Singh Joga, who was elected as an MLA in 1992.Holiday tomorrowThe Punjab Government has declared a holiday on May 26 under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The decision has been taken to facilitate voters to cast their votes in the civic body elections to be held on that day. This order will also apply to all Punjab Government offices and educational institutions in Chandigarh.Voting on May 26The campaigning for civic polls came to an end on Jattvibeday. Elections to eight municipal corporations, 75 councils and 21 nagar panchayats are scheduled for May 26.AAP has fielded 1,801 candidates, followed by Congress 1,550, BJP 1,316, SAD 1,251 and BSP 96. A total of 1,528 Independent candidates are also in the fray.