Once again, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to lay its bet on the ‘old horses’ to win the race. It has fielded 34 sitting legislatures, out of the total 69 names of its candidates for the forthcoming Punjab State Assembly elections, announced by the party on Wednesday.
Besides old-timers, the party also includes 17 new faces, including many young candidates. Tickets have also been given to four female candidates. Six candidates have been shifted to other constituencies.
Embroiled in drug controversy, the party decided to do away with the “tainted” leaders including former Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, and former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander in its first list.
Posing faith on its tested and tried soldiers, the party has decided to field all the cabinet ministers from their respective assembly segments, except the Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa who will contest from lehra instead of Sunam.
Apparently not laying all the cards on the table, the SAD has only taken out the cards which they assure will win them the game. The declaration of candidates on the ‘controversial’ seats has been put on hold for now, where party is struggling with vast options.
Interestingly, party president Sukhbir Badal has not announced his and his Chief Minister father Parkash Singh Badal’s candidature as of now.
Out of total 117 seats, BJP contest elections from 23 seats, leaving 94 in SAD’s kitty. With 69 names announced, the party is yet to decide upon 25 names.
Half of the candidates, 34 out of total 69, are the sitting MlAs, including Adesh Partap Singh Kairon from Patti, Tota Singh from Dharamkot, Janmeja Singh Sekhon from Maur, Bikram Majithia from Majitha, Gulzar Singh Ranike from Attari (SC), Sohan Singh Thandal from Chabbewal, Sikander Singh Maluka from Rampura Phul, Ajit Singh Kohar from Shahkot, Daljit Singh Cheema from Ropar, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon from Sahnewal, and Surjit Singh Rakhra from Samana.
Other prominent names included in the list are Vidhan Sabha’s former Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon from Fatehgarh Churian, Congress turncoat Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from Talwandi Sabo, former minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan from Qadian, lakhbir Singh lodhi Nangal from Batala, ex-minister Sucha Singh langah from Dera Baba Nanak, former Minister Hira Singh Gabria from ludhiana South.
Following dynasty politics, the party has fielded son of Vidhan Sabha Speaker charanjit Singh Atwal, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, from Raikot, son of Akali MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Dilraj Singh Bhunder, from Sardulgarh, son of lok Sabha MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra, from Sanour, adopted son of MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, from Khadoor Sahib.
Giving due share to the female contestants, SAD fielded four of them. They are former Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur from Sultanpur lodhi, sitting MlA Vaninder Kaur lumba from Shutrana, wife of former Minister Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Harpreet Kaur, will contest from Ghanaur, and Amarjit Kaur Sahoke from Jagraon.
In place of adopted daughter of late Gurcharan Singh Tohra Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, who contested on SAD ticket from Patiala Rural in previous polls, the party has fielded Satbir Singh Khatra, son of Punjab police cop Ranbir Singh Khatra, as a rebel party candidate. For the first time in the recallable past, the party, on the pattern of social engineering, has fielded 31 non jat candidates, including six Hindu faces.
Releasing the list, Sukhbir said that the second list will also be announced soon.