The Badals have decided to take their rivals head on from their home constituencies.
Undeterred by the fielding of Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) prominent leaders, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday announced the candidature of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy son Sukhbir Badal from lambi and Jalalabad respectively.
AAP has already thrown a tough challenge to the father-son duo by fielding its popular leaders, journalist-turned-legislator Jarnail Singh against Badal, and comedian-turned-Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann against Sukhbir.
At the same time, the Congress party is yet to announce its candidates on these two high-profile segments besides 38 others even though the Election Commission of India has already announced the polling date a day before.
Announcing the names, SAD secretary and Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said that the Chief Minister will contest from lambi — a constituency he has represented and won consecutively in 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012.
Sukhbir will contest from Jalalabad, from where he won the 2009 by-election and then in 2012 state polls.
Claiming that 2017 would not be a cakewalk for father-son duo, AAP has decided to field the big names against Punjab politics bigwigs. As a part of its strategy, the party has shifted its state legal Cell head and advocate Himmat Singh Shergill from Majitha against the state Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia.
After differences with SAD MP from Ferozepur Sher Singh Ghubaya, there were reports that Sukhbir may contest elections from two constituencies, Jalalabad and Mohali. As Ghubaya has strong influence among the Rai Sikh community that constitutes major part of Jalalabad segment, winning elections don’t seem to be easy for the ruling combine.
Making things worse, Ghubaya’s son, wife and brother shake the Congress’ hand, and the party is expected to field MP’s son from Jalalabad.
AAP’s candidate Bhagwant Mann, who has secured the Sangrur lok Sabha seat by the highest margin in 2014 polls, is sure to emerge as a main challenger to the Deputy Chief Minister.
Badal’s political career started in 1947 when he was elected Sarpanch of the Badal village and later lambi Block Samiti chairman before rising into Punjab politics.
In 1957, he entered Punjab Vidhan Sabha for the first time, and was re-elected in 1969. He was leader of the Opposition in 1972, 1980 and 2002.
Elected in Vidhan Sabha for a total of 10 times, Badal has served five terms as Punjab Chief Minister — the first time in 1970 when he became the youngest chief minister of an Indian State.