Located on the banks of Sutlej on the India-Pakistan border, Ferozepur was founded in the fourteenth century by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. For those unaware of its past, the city’s historical significance lies in the fact that Shiromani Akali Dal has been reigning over the area for the past quarter of a century with its leader Sher Singh Ghubaya holding the fort for a decade. But the chapter in the history may soon change with the trusted soldier turning foe.
To break into Akali citadel, the Congress in 2014 Lok Sabha elections had fielded its prominent leader Sunil Jakhar from the seat—from where his father, Balram Jakhar, was elected way back in 1980—but remained unsuccessful against SAD’s Ghubaya who was elected Ferozepur MP for the second time consecutively.
But this time, Ghubaya is virtually with the Congress— depriving Akali Dal of a strong candidate, while giving the Congress a fitting option. But the two-time MP is yet to formally give up the “scale” and hold the Congress’ “hand”.
Ghubaya, the sitting Akali MP, had raised the banner of revolt against his own party ahead of 2017 State Assembly polls. So much so, that his son and wife formally joined the Congress. Ghubaya openly supported the Congress candidate, Ravneet Singh Bittu, against SAD president Sukhbir Badal in Jalalabad Assembly segment, which falls under Ferozepur constituency.
Congress, in return, rewarded Ghubaya’s son— Devinder Singh Ghubaya— with a party ticket from neighbouring Fazilka which paid dividends. Junior Ghubaya is now Congress MLA.
Ghubaya—who hailed from the Rai Sikh community having a stronghold in the constituency with a sizable population—would soon bid “official” adieu to Akali Dal as he had already made it clear that he would contest polls from Ferozepur, but not under Sukhbir’s leadership.
The sitting MP had maintained that he would take the public opinion to decide from which political party he should contest polls in 2019 except for the Badals.
Congress, on the other hand, is in double dilemma. One, because of Ghubaya’s sleazy video that went viral ahead 2017 elections, and secondly, because he is yet to join the Congress while there are many other party contenders who are eyeing the ticket.
Moreover, Ghubaya had reportedly campaigned for the Akalis in the recently-held panchayat polls. Besides, he was also seen sharing stage with SAD’s rebel faction—SAD (Taksali)—and even conducted door-to-door meetings with them in the constituency.
While Jakhar—who was the party’s candidate in 2014 elections and is now sitting MP from Gurdaspur—has already made clear his intention of seeking re-election from Gurdaspur, the State Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi had claimed the party ticket from Ferozepur either for himself or his son Anumit Singh ‘Hira’ Sodhi.
Sodhi, who is an MLA from Guru Har Sahai constituency which is a part of Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat, was also in race for the party ticket during previous general elections, but lost to Jakhar, who was given party ticket.
Up in arms against the decision, Sodhi had revolted against the party even indicating crossing over to SAD, while his son Anumit had given enough indications of entering the electoral field as an “independent”. But the party managed to pacify them later on.
Rana Sodhi claims a vice-like grip over around 2.5 lakh Rai Sikh community members in the constituency, which was classified under Scheduled Caste (SC) category in 2003 due to his persistent efforts during the Capt Amarinder Singh’s previous Government.
However, in both the cases of Sodhis and Ghubayas, the Congress party would have to forego its ‘one-family, one-ticket’ rule. A senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity, had told The Pioneer that putting up with one-family, one-ticket or one-post rule is expected to play a major hindrance in selecting candidates, and might also cause resentment among many leaders.
“The key is that if there is some deserving and winnable candidate, he or she may not be ignored because they have their father or mother or husband or wife as MLA or MP or Minister,” said the leader.
Started off as a Youth Congress vice president, Anumit is currently PPCC member for over 20 years. “Ferozepur, which the Congress party has failed to win since 1989, now seems a sure victory because of the internal conflicts which the opposition parties, SAD and AAP are battling,” he said.
SAD, which has completely ruled out Ghubaya, is in search of a suitable candidate now. It is believed that the party may consider the new entrant Joginder Singh Panjgrain, a former Congress leader who had been two-time MLA.
Panjgrain, who has recently joined Akali Dal, is a front runner for the SAD ticket. He had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Faridkot on a Congress ticket, lost to greenhorn Prof Sadhu Singh of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) finishing third with just 2.51 lakh votes against total 10.3 lakh.
In 2007, Panjgrain was elected MLA from Panjgrain constituency, and then from Jaitu in 2012. After facing defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha election, he also lost from Bhadaur reserved constituency in 2017 assembly elections.
For Sukhbir, Ferozepur constituency is the battle of prestige as his home constituency, Jalalabad, falls under it, and his own MP has turned his rival. Furthermore, the seat has been with SAD since past 30 years which he wanted to retain at any cost.
Originally, Jalalabad was Ghubaya’s area. He won the seat in 2007 with a margin of 44,000 votes, but later vacated it for Sukhbir to contest 2009 bypoll ensuring SAD president’s entry into Vidhan Sabha, and winning it by a record 82,000 votes.
Ghubaya claimed that Sukhbir’s popularity is diminishing in the constituency considering the squeezing of winning margins. Sukhbir won 2017 elections by a margin of just 18,000 votes, against 82,000 votes in 2009 bypoll.
The third alternative, Aam Aadmi Party, which has taken a lead in announcing its candidates for five seats, is yet to decide for Ferozepur. Its candidate during previous elections, advocate Satnam Pal Kamboj, who came third with about 1.13 lakh (10 percent) votes, has quit the party in January 2017, but is yet to join any outfit till date.
Amidst all this, former Indian Army chief General (retired) JJ Singh has announced his candidature from the seat. General JJ Singh, who had challenged Capt Amarinder Singh in his citadel Patiala during 2017 state elections as Akali candidate, has conveyed his wish to the leaders of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA)—a sprouting fourth front with all splinter groups of major political parties coming together.
General JJ Singh, who has recently parted ways with the Akali Dal, has left it over the PDA partners “take a call” over his candidature.
CONSTITUENCY AT A GLANCE
Ferozepur constituency comprises nine Assembly segments out of which majority six are with the Congress, while two are with Akali Dal, and one with the BJP.
A look at the constituency’s electoral history revealed that Ferozepur has emerged as Akali bastion with the State’s regional party winning five back-to-back elections. Moreover, out of total 16 elections since 1952, SAD has won nine while Congress has won five.
Demographics: Ferozepur parliamentary constituency is largely a rural segment with a majority of Rai Sikh population —nearly 15 percent—who have been playing a crucial role in deciding their representative in the Lower House. It is believed that the Rai Sikh community have more influence than its numbers.
The seat was won by former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar, a Jat, in 1980. But after 1989, the seat turned a fortress of Rai Sikhs electing Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mohan Singh Phalianwala in 1996, SAD’s Zora Singh Maan in 1998, 1999 and 2004, followed by SAD’s Ghubaya in 2009 and 2014.
LAST ELECTION
Constituency witnessed high-profile election in 2014 where SAD-BJP combine candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya won the seat with not-so-comfortable margin of 31,420 votes defeating Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar.
Ghubaya received 4,87,932 (44.13 percent of the total votes polled) votes against 3,08,964 votes (41.29 percent) casted for the runner up Jakhar. AAP’s Satnam Singh Kamboj bagged 1,13,412 votes (10.26 percent).
LAST THREE MPs
2004: Zora Singh Maan (SAD)
2009 : Sher Singh Ghubaya (SAD)
2014 : Sher Singh Ghubaya (SAD)
