Seen as a main contender for the Khadoor Sahib by-election after Congress’ announcement of boycotting the bypoll, the independent aspirant Bhai Baldeep Singh’s candidature was rejected by the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday.
An Aam Aadmi Party rebel, Bhai Baldeep Singh had failed to submit proof of being a voter in Punjab, which resulted in the rejection of his candidature for the election.
Bhai Baldeep was given time to produce the required proof of being a voter by 11 am on Thursday but he could not produce the proof.
Terming his rejection to be illegal, Bhai Baldeep Singh said: “This is illegal and undemocratic vendetta on the part of the SAD, for whom I was the biggest threat.”
Bhai Baldeep Singh who had contested the parliamentary elections from Khadoor Sahib on AAP’s ticket in 2014 was seen as a major contender as he was being supported by rebel AAP leaders, including MPs Dharamveera Gandhi, Harinder Singh Khalsa and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav.
Rejection of Bhai Baldeep Singh’s nomination has now virtually turned the bye-election to be a litmus test for Shiromani Akali Dal to come clean on the issue of hurting religious sentiments.
The Congress has already announced to boycott the Khadoor Sahib bye-election terming it a matter of principle saying that MlA Ramanjit Singh Sikki had resigned from the seat on the question of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and the culprits of desecration and killing of innocent protesters are still at large.
With the latest developments, now the SAD candidate Ravinder Singh Brahmpura is the only heavyweight contender left in the bye-election. The presence of only one major party in the poll arena has brought forth a new challenge for the ruling party to establish its credibility on religious ground.
The voter turnout in the upcoming Khadoor Sahib by-election is seen to be a referendum on the issue of religious sentiments. Not just a win for the ruling party but the voter turnout will also matter in the by-election now.
Congress rebel Bhupinder Singh Bittu, former AAP convener Sumel Singh Sidh , Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Puran Singh Sheikh and Majhabi Sikh Balmiki Morcha candidate Sukhdev Singh Khosla are left in the fray.
Punjab Congress chief Capt. Amarinder on Wednesday had expressed an apprehension that the Congress supporters in the absence of the party candidate might not vote or use NOTA(None of the above) option in the election.