In an attempt to counter the looming shadow of anti-incumbency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategically nominated local figure Dinesh Babbu for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat. However, the decision has sparked dissent within the party ranks, with notable figures such as Kavita Khanna – widow of BJP's former MP Vinod Khanna, and senior BJP leader Swaran Salaria – a prominent Mumbai-based businessman, expressing their discontent over Babbu’s candidature.

In the wake of a lackluster performance by Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol, who won the seat for BJP in 2019 but failed to actively engage with his constituency or attend Lok Sabha sessions to advocate for local issues, the BJP decided to go in for a local leader instead of a “parachute” candidate to retain the constituency.

Gurdaspur, once emerged as a BJP stronghold, is currently grappling with a myriad of challenges. Apart from the palpable sense of anti-incumbency both at the constituency and the national levels, the party is also contending with internal discord. Moreover, the ongoing farmers’ agitation has complicated campaigning efforts, particularly in rural areas where the BJP's support base is crucial.

BJP won the Gurdaspur segment with the help of Bollywood yesteryear's superstar Vinod Khanna, who served as its MP for nearly four terms. In the 2019 elections, Bollywood actor Sunny Deol secured victory for the BJP ticket, riding a wave of popularity. However, his conspicuous absence from the constituency post-election stirred discontent among the locals, casting a shadow over the party's prospects in the region. “Missing MP” posters were put up by the locals across the constituency several times, with the locals asking if Deol does not want to work, he should resign.

To address the prevailing anti-incumbency sentiment and revitalize its position in Gurdaspur, the saffron party saw Babbu — a former legislator from the area and a grassroots leader — as a potential antidote to the disconnect felt by constituents under Deol’s representation. However, the decision has not been universally embraced within the BJP ranks.

Salaria and Kavita Khanna have publicly expressed their discontent over the choice of candidate. Their dissent has added complexity to the party’s electoral calculus, raising questions about unity and cohesion ahead of the crucial elections. In 2019 also, when the BJP decided to ‘paradrop’ Sunny Deol from the seat, both Kavita Khanna and Salaria had also raised the banner of revolt against the party leadership for ignoring their claims over the seat.

Kavita Khanna’s association with Gurdaspur runs deep, extending beyond her role as Vinod Khanna's spouse. For over 36 years, she has remained dedicated to serving the people of Gurdaspur, embodying the spirit of public service instilled by her late husband, undertaking several social welfare initiatives, besides setting up Vinod Khanna Foundation.

Expressing her reservations about Babbu’s candidacy, Kavita Khanna hinted at the possibility of exploring alternative political avenues, signaling a potential departure from the BJP fold. While affirming her allegiance to the principles of the party, she emphasized the primacy of serving the electorate and hinted at her willingness to contest independently or with another political entity.

Notably, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is trying to rope her in, and field from the seat — from where its old ally, BJP, used to field the candidate as per the seat sharing arrangement. This would be for the first time the Akali Dal would field its candidate as the SAD and BJP failed to stitch an alliance.

Salaria, another influential figure within the BJP, echoed similar sentiments regarding Babbu’s nomination. Emphasizing his grassroots leadership and extensive community engagement through the Jan Seva Foundation, Salaria articulated his commitment to address the people’s concerns, while hinting that he is contemplating to contest as an independent. Notably, Salaria had lost the 2017 byelection to Congress’ Sunil Jakhar, who is now Punjab BJP president.

The nomination of Babbu has not only exposed fault lines within the BJP but also raised pertinent questions about the party's electoral strategy and candidate selection process. With discontent brewing among senior leaders and grassroots workers, the BJP finds itself at a critical juncture, navigating internal dissent while striving to retain its electoral stronghold in Gurdaspur.

While the BJP succeeded in appeasing both Salaria and Kavita Khanna during the 2019 polls, convincing them this time appears to be a formidable challenge.

Gurdaspur has traditionally been the Congress bastion, winning the seat 12 times out of total 13 elections, including a bypoll, held till 1996. It was only in 1998, when the BJP decided to field Bollywood’s yesteryears’ superstar Vinod Khanna, it broke the Congress’ winning spree. Khanna scored a hat-trick by winning three consecutive elections in 1998, 1999, and 2004, and his victory campaign was halted by the Congress’ Partap Singh Bajwa in 2009 elections; which Khanna avenged in 2014 polls by defeating him.

But, the Congress won the seat back in 2017 by-elections necessitated following Khanna’s death due to prolonged illness. In 2019, BJP again relied on star power to retain the seat with Sunny Deol defeating Congress’ Sunil Jakhar.