The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced its candidates for three of the four constituencies set to witness by-elections next month. The list included high-profile names — all of whom have previously been associated with rival parties — underscoring the shifting dynamics in the state’s political landscape. The BJP has fielded former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal from Gidderbaha, former Akali leader Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon from Dera Baba Nanak, and former Congress MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon from Barnala. However, the party has yet to declare a candidate for Chabbewal.
The upcoming by-elections in these four constituencies were triggered after their sitting legislators won seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections, vacating their positions in the state assembly. The bypolls are scheduled to take place on November 13, and the contest is expected to be a tough battle, particularly as political loyalties have been shifting in the region.
Manpreet Badal: Returning to Gidderbaha after 12 yrs
Manpreet Singh Badal, the most high-profile candidate among the three, has a long-standing connection with Gidderbaha. Once an influential leader in SAD and Congress, he has held the post of Finance Minister in governments led by both parties. His political career has seen several shifts, with his most recent switch to the BJP in January 2023. Manpreet’s return to Gidderbaha, that too after a gap of 12 years, is seen as a crucial move by the BJP to gain ground in an area traditionally dominated by the Badal family’s influence.
No stranger to the Gidderbaha constituency, Manpreet first entered the political arena in 1995, when he contested and won the Gidderbaha seat in a by-election after his uncle, the five-time Chief Minister late Parkash Singh Badal, vacated it for him. Over the years, Manpreet established a formidable presence, winning four consecutive elections from the constituency between 1995 and 2007.
His political career has seen him serve as Punjab's finance minister twice — first during the SAD-BJP alliance in 2007; and later during the Congress-led Government in 2017. In 2011, citing differences within the SAD over economic policies, Manpreet broke away from his uncle and formed the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). However, the PPP’s failure in 2012 elections prompted him to merge with Congress, where he continued to play a key role, including winning the Bathinda Urban seat in 2017. After a loss in the 2022 elections, Manpreet made a significant shift by joining the BJP in January 2023.
For Manpreet, the by-election in Gidderbaha represents a return to familiar political turf, where his family has held considerable influence for decades. His campaign is expected to focus heavily on his past record and his family’s legacy, particularly that of Parkash Singh Badal, a towering figure in Punjab politics.
Ravi Kahlon: Continuing a Legacy in Dera Baba Nanak
Ravi Karan Kahlon, BJP’s candidate for Dera Baba Nanak constituency, hails from a prominent political family. His father, the late Nirmal Singh Kahlon, served as Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker and held several ministerial positions during the SAD-BJP Government. Ravi Karan has been active in Punjab’s politics for years and was a key leader within the SAD before his recent shift to the BJP. Ravi Karan’s move to the BJP came after the SAD readmitted another senior leader, Sucha Singh Langah, triggering dissatisfaction within certain factions of the party. Ravi Karan contested the 2022 assembly elections from Dera Baba Nanak but lost to Congress’ Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa by a narrow margin. With his switch to the BJP, he now faces the challenge of reclaiming the seat in a constituency that has traditionally seen close contests. His campaign will likely emphasize his family’s contributions to the region and his plans for local development.
Kewal Dhillon: From Congress to BJP in Barnala
Kewal Singh Dhillon, BJP candidate for Barnala, is another veteran who has switched political affiliations. Dhillon was a two-time Congress MLA, winning the Barnala seat in 2007 and 2012. However, in 2017, he lost to the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer by a margin of approximately 2,300 votes. Despite this setback, Dhillon remained a prominent figure within Congress until 2022, when internal disputes over ticket allocation prompted him to leave the party. Dhillon formally joined the BJP in June 2022, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In the upcoming by-elections, Dhillon is expected to leverage his extensive experience and local connections in Barnala. His campaign will likely focus on the constituency’s development issues and his track record as a former legislator. However, he faces stiff competition, particularly from the AAP, which has already announced Harinder Singh Dhaliwal as its candidate for Barnala.
Litmus Tests For All
These by-elections are not just about filling the vacant assembly seats; they are a litmus test for the shifting political alliances in Punjab. All three BJP candidates have deep roots in the state’s politics, with extensive histories in the Congress and Akali Dal. Their shifts to the BJP signal a broader strategy by the party to establish a foothold in Punjab — a state where it has traditionally played a smaller role compared to the Congress and the Akali Dal. Meanwhile, AAP, which currently holds power in Punjab, has already announced its candidates for all four constituencies. Congress and the Akali Dal, on the other hand, have yet to reveal their candidates, adding an element of suspense to the upcoming contest.
