With just a day left for filing nominations for August 21 by-election, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday did a u-turn.
After announcing renowned, but controversial, Punjabi singer Balkar Singh Sidhu as its candidate from Talwandi Sabo Assembly segment, the party withdrew his name.
The AAP has yet not announced Sidhu’s replacement, but party sources told The Pioneer that a lecturer Baljinder Kaur is likely to be announced as party’s candidate. The decision came after the party received “negative feedback” about Sidhu from the party circles. A great wave of resentment has been experienced after Sidhu’s candidature was announced, with the party workers and leaders, working for the party since long, raising objections over his selection.
40-year-old Balkar Sidhu became active in AAP after the party won four seats in parliamentary elections and joined the party in May this year. He had also campaigned for AAP candidates in Punjab during lok Sabha polls. In these elections, AAP had managed to secure about 16,000 votes from Talwandi Sabo segment under Bathinda parliamentary constituency.
SAD has fielded former sitting MlA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, while Congress has fielded former Bathinda MlA Harminder Singh Jassi as its candidate from Talwandi Sabo.
