Delhi is all set to get the taste of Punjab politics with the Badals and his team from the State all set to campaign for the SAD-BJP candidates ahead February 7 polls. Among those “stars”, who will soon be landing and those who have already landed in the national to give an impetus to the party’s poll campaign includes the party’s titans from the Badal family, including Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his deputy son Sukhbir Badal, Bathinda MP and Sukhbir’s wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and her brother — Bikram Singh Majithia.
Interestingly, the name of senior Akali leader and Badal’s son-in-law Adeish Partap Singh Kairon — Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister — is missing from the list of party’s star campaigners submitted with the Election Commission of India. Badal’s distant relative and Punjab Defence Services Welfare Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon has found his name on the list of party’s “star campaigners”.
While the Badal father-son duo would be seen throwing their weight behind BJP candidates too, most of the Akali star campaigners would focus on Sikh-dominated seats. A list of 20 star campaigners has already been submitted at Delhi Chief Electoral Office by the SAD which is contesting on four seats — Rajouri Garden, Hari Nagar, Kalka ji and Shahdara.
As per the Election Commission’s instruction, the prior registration of star campaigners with the Delhi Electoral Office will exempt the candidates from bearing their travel expenses which would otherwise be added to the expenditure of the contestant who invites them to his rally or public meeting.
Among the party’s heavyweights, putting their weight behind the SAD-BJP combine candidates, includes the Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) — Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Naresh Gujral, and Balwinder Singh Bunder. Besides, former Union Minister and party’s Delhi unit in-charge Balwant Singh Ramoowalia will also be among the campaigners.
Party’s lok Sabha MPs — Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Prem Singh Chandumajra — along with other key campaigners including Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK have also been included in the list of 20 star campaigners. In what could virtually put Punjab Government machinery in abeyance during completion of campaigning period in Delhi, 10 out of 13 members of the Council of Ministers from the Akali Dal are the part of party’s star campaigners’ team.
Besides Chief Minister, his deputy, Majithia and Sekhon, six more Cabinet Ministers — Gulzar Singh Ranike, Tota Singh, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Sikander Singh Maluka, Daljeet Singh Cheema, and Sohan Singh Thandal — will be camping in Delhi. Other than that, Akali Dal’s women wing president and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur will also be party’s star campaigner.
In contrast to Akali Dal’s stalwart camping in the national capital, its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has included cricketer-turned-politician and former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, and yesteryear’s Bollywood superstar and Gurdaspur MP Vinod Khanna in its list of 40 star campaigners for the party.
CAPT, BAJWA, BHATTAl AMONG CONGRESS’ STAR CAMPAIGNERS
Patiala Royal Capt Amarinder Singh is all set to add sparkle to the Congress party’s election campaign for Delhi assembly polls. Apart from his majestic presence from Punjab, the State Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister and sitting MlA Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and All India Congress Committee secretary Kuljit Singh Nagra were also among Congress’ star campaigners. Former Union Ministers — Manish Tewari and Ambika Soni — have also been included in the 40 star campaigners’ list.
AAP BRINGS GUl, MANN, GANDHI, PHOOlKA
Not lagging behind, the Aam Aadmi Party has actually brought “stars” to campaign for the party in Delhi polls. His list of 20 star campaigners include former Miss India and party’s candidate from Chandigarh lok Sabha seat Gul Panag, Bollywood music director Vishal Dadlani, actor-comedian Javed Jaffery, party’s Sangrur MP and stand-up comedian Bhagwant Mann among others. Besides Mann, party’s Patiala MP Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, and senior advocate HS Phoolka, who was known for his “long” fight for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, are also party’s star campaigners.