Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday started its journey to victory from where it lost its star candidate and sitting MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura—a traditional Akali leader who has floated his own political outfit SAD (Taksali).
Holding fort since decades, the SAD announced its first candidate, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) former president Bibi Jagir Kaur, for Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency — considered an important Sikh holy center where the voters prefer panthic issues over development.
“SAD’s first ticket for the parliamentary elections from the Khadoor Sahib seat is given to Bibi Jagir Kaur,” declared SAD president Sukhbir Badal during a public meeting in Tarn Taran district on Tuesday.
The announcement for Bibi Jagir Kaur’s name came a day after the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) — a conglomeration of six political outfits — announced the name of Parmajit Kaur Khalra, the widow of an Akali leader and human rights activist known for raising the issue of fake encounters Jaswant Singh Khalra, as its candidate from Khadoor Sahib.
Khalra would represent Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), headed by Bibi Jagir Kaur’s arch rival Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
Khadoor Sahib has virtually been an Akali citadel ever since the constituency was formed following the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in 2008. Its earlier name was Tarn Taran, but changed during delimitation to Khadoor Sahib — a historic village where second Sikh master Guru Angad Dev lived for 13 years.
The two elections parliamentary elections this segment has witnessed so far, since its christening as Khadoor Sahib, elected SAD candidates — Rattan Singh Ajnala in 2009, and Brahmpura in 2014.
But, now both the leaders have parted ways with the Akali Dal and floated a breakaway faction—SAD (Taksali)—comprising veteran and Taksali (traditional) Akali leaders. The constituency may actually turn out to be a fort of rebel Akali leaders who have proved their mettle in the state politics.
Brahmpura, the sitting MP, is now heading SAD (Taksali), throwing open challenge to the Badals’ led SAD, which, he claimed, has turned into a company looting people and has digress from its ideals.
Once known as “Majhe da Jarnail”, Brahmpura has already announced not to contest election, but lead the party from the front. In his place, he has announced the name of former Indian Army chief and Arunachal Pradesh’s former Governor General JJ Singh for 2019 polls.
General JJ Singh, who forayed into politics ahead 2017 state assembly polls, had unsuccessfully contested 2017 polls against Capt Amarinder Singh from Patiala urban assembly constituency with finishing third with just 11.10 percent of the total votes polled.
After failed talks with Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA), SAD (Taksali) is now holding parleys with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The presence of Taksalis would turn the electoral battle four-way making it difficult for the Badals to retain the seat which has stayed with the panthic party since 1977, except 1992 when it boycotted the polls.
Winning elections would not be an easy task for Akali leader. Besides its rivals and the sacrilege issue haunting SAD, Bibi Jagir Kaur would also have to fight against the taint she carry for her daughter’s “death”.
Even though Bibi Jagir Kaur was acquitted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in December 2018 in a case of forcible abortion and abduction of her daughter Harpreet Kaur, who had died under mysterious circumstances in April 2000, the blot would always remain.
Bibi Jagir Kaur had to resign as a minister in the Akali-BJP government in 2012 when a CBI court had sentenced her and three others to five-year imprisonment in the case.
She had represented Bholath assembly constituency in Kapurthala district in 2012, and had remained the president of Sikh body—the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).