Campaigning for the Moga bypoll has picked up pace with ruling Shiromoni Akali Dal and opposition Congress intensifying canvassing in favour of their candidates.        

The seat, which fell vacant after Joginderpal Jain quit Congress to join SAD, is witnessing a multi-cornered contest between SAD, Congress and Sanjha Morcha.        

There are ten candidates in the fray for the election on February 23, including Vijay Kumar Sathi (Cong) and Ravinder Singh Dhaliwal (Sanjha Morcha).         Moga assembly constituency has traditionally been a Congress stronghold as the party has won eight times from here, Akalis twice and Janta Dal once, officials said today.        

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has started the election campaign by holding meetings with the trading community, municipal commissioners and with senior party leaders including former minister Tota Singh and former DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill, whom Jain trounced in 2012 assembly elections, party sources said here.        

Besides Sukhbir, his father and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal will soon start campaigning for Jain, they said. Apart from Akalis, Congress leaders too are canvassing hard for their candidate Sathi.        

Star campaigners including state party Chief Amarinder Singh, CLP leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar and AICC member Jagmeet Singh Brar have started door-to-door campaigning and holding meetings to motivate people against the alleged worsening law and order situation in the state and its economy.