Punjab’s electoral landscape is undergoing a fascinating transformation, brimming with intrigue and excitement. In a significant development, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday announced that Surinder Kamboj — the father of Jalalabad’s MLA from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — will be its candidate from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency. For the same seat, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Amritsar-Mann faction has nominated Bhupinder Singh Bhullar — the father of slain gangster Jaipal Bhullar, adding further layers of interest to the upcoming elections.

As the countdown to the polls in the border state ticks closer with less than two months left until the elections, each passing day is bringing new surprises in the run up to polls, adding layers of anticipation to the ballot battle. Amidst the backdrop of leaders indulging in party hopping and shifting loyalties for perceived “better” opportunities, BSP and SAD (Amritsar-Mann) have injected a fresh dynamic into the electoral scene by fielding its candidates with unique backgrounds. Moreover, none of the major political parties has yet announced its candidate for the Ferozepur seat.

Surinder Kamboj, the father of Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Kamboj ‘Goldy’, who emerged victorious against SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in the 2022 state assembly polls, had joined the Mayawati-led BSP on Saturday. Congress rebel-turned-AAP MLA Goldy Kamboj emerged as a giant slayer by defeating Sukhbir Badal, securing a staggering lead of 30,930 votes.

Making things more interesting, now, his father would be contesting from the seat currently represented by Sukhbir, and by aligning himself with a party that was once an ally of the Akali Dal in the Punjab assembly polls. However, Sukhbir Badal has already made it clear that he would not be contesting the Lok Sabha elections this time.

Speaking about his candidacy, 68-year-old Surinder Kamboj emphasized that he holds his own ideology, which may differ from that of his son Jagdeep Kamboj ‘Goldy’. Despite claims of living separately, the father-son duo has been seen together at various social and political events, underscoring their close ties.

The announcement of fielding Surinder Kamboj from Ferozepur was made by BSP’s in-charge for Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh Randhir Singh Beniwal. “The party will soon name its candidates for the remaining seats in Punjab,” he said. Notably, BSP had previously announced its candidate from the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat.

The seat has a big chunk of over three lakh electorate belonging to the Kamboj community. To recall, Surinder Kamboj was arrested last year in an extortion case in Fazilka. Following his arrest, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had reiterated the need for strict action in the matter while declaring that the law was “equal for everyone, and action will be taken against any accused individual”. Notably, Surinder Kamboj and four others were accused of blackmailing.

Goldy Kamboj, at that time, had stated that the AAP Government had zero tolerance for corruption, regardless of who is involved. At the same time, he had claimed that he had been distanced from his father for a long time, and had no connection to the matter. Emphasizing that the law will take its own course, Goldy had stated that he would not intervene in the matter.

Meanwhile, SAD (Amritsar-Mann), unveiling its second list of candidates for June 1 Lok Sabha elections, chose Bhupinder Singh Bhullar to contest from Ferozepur constituency. A retired inspector of the Punjab Police, Bhullar is the father of the deceased gangster Jaipal Bhullar, who was killed in an encounter with police in Kolkata in 2021. Jaipal Bhullar, known for his criminal activities across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, had over 40 cases registered against him.

Apart from Bhullar, SAD (Amritsar-Mann) has also nominated Emaan Singh Mann — son of Sangrur’s sitting MP Simranjeet Singh Mann — for the Amritsar seat, and Harpal Singh Baler for Khadoor Sahib.

Interestingly, this election would see the father-son duo of Simranjeet Singh Mann and Emaan Singh Mann contesting the general elections from Sangrur and Amritsar, respectively — apparently for the first time in the recallable past.