Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) on Tuesday declared Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) “suspended” MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi as its candidate from Patiala Lok Sabha seat.
The decision comes a day after the leaders of the fourth front consensually decided its candidates for half of the total 13 seats in Punjab.
Dr Gandhi has been placed under suspension since 2015 for “anti-party activities”, following his public outbursts against his own party and its leadership. Despite remaining under suspension for such a long time and candidly joining hands with the rivals, Dr Gandhi neither resigned from AAP nor expelled from the party.
AAP had made serious attempts to win over ‘rebel’ Dr Gandhi to the party fold by holding series of talks with him. But he maintained distance from the party which has always opposed the demand for complete autonomy to the state unit.
Contesting his first electoral battle in 2014 on AAP’s ticket, Dr Gandhi had stunned the royal family by voting out four-time Patiala MP and the then sitting Union Minister Preneet Kaur in her bastion.
A cardiologist by profession, Dr Gandhi defeated Maharani of Patiala in her citadel by 20,942 votes.
Dr Gandhi had joined hands with AAP’s rebel MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP’s former ally Lok Insaaf Party MLAs Simarjeet Bains and Balwinder Bains, and BSP to form Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA), while inviting all “like-minded” parties to come along.
Later, SAD (Taksali) — a new political outfit floated by traditional Akalis hailing from the state’s Majha region — too joined hands with the PDA.
Only a day before, the splinter groups of Punjab’s main political parties, including Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), SAD (Taksali), Lok Insaaf Party, along with BSP come together to give a shape to the grand alliance ahead 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while leaving AAP out.
Notably, AAP had send across a loud and clear message that it was open to alliance with the like-mined parties.
The meeting decided on candidates for at least seven seats, besides others issues. Another meeting will be held in the first week of February, wherein the decision on the remaining seats would be taken besides sorting out certain issues that could not be discussed in the Monday’s meeting.
It has been learnt that Khaira would contest from Bathinda against the Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur Badal who is currently the Cabinet Minister. Ludhiana parliamentary seat has gone in the share of Bains brothers — Simarjeet and Balwinder Singh Bains as they have a stronghold in the area.
Sitting MP from Khadoor Sahib Ranjit Singh Brahmpura would seek re-election from the seat.
It has been learnt that AAP’s former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who had also floated his own outfit — Apna Punjab Party — ahead 2017 assembly polls, would also join hands soon. He may get a ticket from Gurdaspur.
Khaira, who was unceremoniously removed as the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha by the AAP central leadership in August, suspended from the party, and later he resigned from AAP, said that the PDA would aim to liberate Punjab from the clutches of corrupt traditional parties and the corrupt feudal families.
While PEP is formed by Khaira who rebelled against AAP and later joined by another AAP MLA from Jaiton Master Baldev Singh, SAD (Taksali) was constituted by the rebel traditional Akalis including sitting MP Brahmpura, former Minister Sekhwan and Ajnala. LIP was also formed by Bains brothers — Simarjeet and Balwinder — who were also part of SAD but parted ways before 2012 state assembly elections.
All the break-away factions are joining hands against the traditional political parties — the Congress, SAD led by the Badals, and the BJP — to provide the electorates an alternative.