Sharing international border with hostile neighbour Pakistan, Gurdaspur has perpetually been witnessing disturbances due to infiltration. But the political turmoil this parliamentary constituency may witness in the run up to ensuing Lok Sabha elections appears to be unprecedented.
Before the real ballot battle sets off, political parties are virtually fighting among themselves. In Congress, sitting MP Sunil Jakhar has already declared his candidature, while the former MP and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa is also staking claim for the party ticket.
Similarly in BJP, the fight is between Mumbai-based businessman Swaran Salaria — who had unsuccessfully contested Gurdaspur by-election in 2017 against Jakhar, and the party’s deceased four-time MP Vinod Khanna’s wife Kavita Khanna — who enjoys backing of several Delhi-based leaders, including LK Advani.
There are reports that to match Khanna’s stature of a ‘star’, the saffron party is also considering to field actor Sunny Deol.
Significance of Gurdaspur can be gauged from the fact that the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the party’s election campaign by holding a massive rally here on January 3. BJP, and its ally SAD, is heavily banking on the issue of opening of Kartarpur corridor, which will connect constituency’s Dera Baba Nanak with Pakistan.
With the Congress in power in Punjab and BJP-SAD at the Centre, it would be interesting to see the role of main opposition party in the state, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party had failed to make a mark in the constituency during 2017 State polls as out of nine assembly segments, it lost on all.
During Gurdaspur by-election too, the party’s candidate Major General (retired) Suresh Kumar Khajuria failed to save his security deposit.
Gurdaspur has always been Congress’ citadel, winning 11 elections out of 12 till 1996, including a bypoll. It was only in 1998, when the BJP decided to field Bollywood 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 Congress’ Bajwa in 2009 elections; which Khanna revenged in 2014 polls.
But, the Congress win the seat back in 2017 by-elections necessitated following Khanna's death due to prolonged illness. And this time, the Congress had decided to field an “outsider” Jakhar from Gurdaspur, not relying on Bajwa, who was later accommodated as Rajya Sabha MP.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had played a major role in securing a ticket for Jakhar, who lost 2017 state assembly elections from his bastion Abohar, while assuring his bête noire Bajwa remains out of job.
Now, with the elections staring at, Bajwa has once again become active in the constituency — giving birth to rumours of him replacing Jakhar. But Jakhar was quick to clarify, visiting constituency several times in a week, attending swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected sarpanches, and planning to buy a new house in Pathankot by this month.
If that was not all, he also highlights the works he had done for the constituency in less than a year’s time including getting clearances from the central ministries, increasing crushing capacity of Paniyar and Batala sugar mills, besides working hard to resolve the issue of Pathankot’s six rail crossings on Joginder Nagar narrow gauge track — one of the prime issue for the electorates.
On the other hand in BJP, Salaria was assertively preparing for the contest, but Modi’s Gurdaspur rally gave him sleepless nights when the Prime Minister praised former MP Khanna in the presence of Kavita Khanna.
During 2017 by-poll, the choice was between Kavita Khanna and Salaria, but the businessman, with the backing of Swami Ramdev, managed to get the ticket only to face defeat.
Both the leaders are presently on their foot to mark their presence in the constituency, taking up issues with the authorities concerned, especially at the Central Government level. While Kavita Khanna is making effort to revive almost-defunct 150-year-old Dhariwal Woollen Mill among other things, Salaria has taken up the issue of 5,500-year-old legendary Mukteshwar caves with Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari.
And then, there are other claimants including Sujanpur’s three-time MLA Dinesh Babbu having the backing of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Pathankot Mayor Anil Vasudeva.
Besides fielding a strong candidate against the Congress, BJP heavily depends on SAD to make a mark in rural areas. But, what worries the BJP is the lack of senior leadership in SAD coupled with rebellion and exodus the party is facing in the constituency.
Once considered its stronghold, Gurdaspur constituency has witnessed departure of four top SAD leaders in the past one year. During SAD-BJP’s second term, three ministers — Sucha Singh Langah, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Balbir Singh Baath, and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, were hailing from this area.
Now, Sekhwan, who represented Qadian, left his parent party to form a splinter group — SAD (Taksali). Gurdaspur district unit president and two-time MLA GS Babbehali is facing charges of criminal conspiracy, former Minister and Akali heavyweight Langah has lost his hold after his controversial video surfaced ahead 2017 by-poll, while Kahlon is backing out owing to age and health problems.
Amidst all this, SAD’s Batala MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal and Majha zone youth president Ravi Karan Kahlon have taken a charge of the party’s campaign in the area.
At the same time, Congress maintained that SAD has been totally marginalised in the constituency claiming that winning Qadian, Fatehgarh Churian, Gurdaspur and Dera Baba Nanak assembly seats will be a cake walk for the party.
On AAP ticket, Sucha Singh Chhotepur had unsuccessfully contested 2014 polls, while party’s candidate in 2017 by-election Khajuria could not save his security deposit facing a humiliating defeat.
CONSTITUENCY AT A GLANCE
Gurdaspur constituency comprises nine assembly segments, falling in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts. Out of these, Congress has seven MLAs — Pathankot, Dina Nagar, Qadian, Fatehgarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Gurudaspur, and Bhoa; while SAD and the BJP have one MLA each — Batala and Sujanpur, respectively.
The seat has been a Congress stronghold since the first Lok Sabha polls. The party won all elections, barring in 1977 (Janata Party) and then in 1998, 1999 and 2002, which were won by BJP's Vinod Khanna. Congress' Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder won five consecutive polls from 1980 to 1996.
Demographics: Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency has a considerable population of Rajputs and ex-servicemen, which hold a key. The constituency has over 2.75 lakh ex-servicemen and Rajputs.
LAST ELECTION
Constituency witnessed by-election in 2017 where Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar won the seat with a highest ever margin of 1,93,219 votes in the constituency defeating SAD-BJP combine candidate Sawarn Singh Salaria.
Earlier, Congress’ Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder was holding the record of highest margin win in Gurdaspur constituency of 1.51 lakh votes in 1980.
Jakhar has received 4,99,752 votes against 3,06,553 votes casted for the runner up Salaria. AAP’s Khajuria bagged only 23,579 votes.
LAST THREE MPs
2017 (bypoll)- Sunil Jakhar (Congress)
2014-Vinod Khanna (BJP)
2009-Partap Singh Bajwa (Congress)