BJP and AAP’s first list of candidates has set the stage for a poetic fight of Punjabi artists for the Faridkot Lok Sabha Seat. Legendary Sufi & folk singer Hans Raj Hans will be squaring off against actor, comedian & singer, Karmjeet Anmol. While Karmjeet Anmol will contesting the Lok Sabha seat for the first time, he faces an experienced rival in Hans Raj, who has contested twice and won once in general elections but not in Punjab. Here is all about the BJP’s candidate for the Faridkot Lok Sabha Constituency, Hans Raj Hans:
Hans Raj Hans was born in the village of Shafipur, near Jalandhar and is a matric pass. In his teen years, Hans was trained in singing by Ustad Puran Shah Koti. In 2014, it was reported that Hans Raj converted to Islam, however he has denied this claim. Hans is an ardent follower of Sufism. In his youth, he learned from music director Charanjit Ahuja and then started singing Punjabi folk, devotional, and Sufi music. He worked with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the movie Kachche Dhaage. His works earned him the Padma Shri award in 2008.
Hans had a tryst with religion in 2006 when he became the head of the Dera Baba Lal Badshah at Nakodar. But he left in 2015 amid controversies.
The singer also boasts a global presence as Hans has been an honorary music professor at Washington DC University and San Jose State University in USA.
Political Career:
Hans joined the Shiromani Akali Dal party in January 2009 and in May of that year, he unsuccessfully contested the Jalandhar constituency against Congress’ Mohinder Singh Kaypee. He resigned from SAD on 18 December 2014 and joined the Indian National Congress in February 2016.
Following a short stint in Congress, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 10 December 2016. He defeated and replaced Udit Raj as the candidate representing North West Delhi, a seat he won by a huge margin by defeating the AAP’s Gagan Singh Ranga in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Hans Raj Hans:
- Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Father’s name: Arjan Singh, Arjan Dass
- Age: 61
- Self-Profession: Professional Singer
- Spouse Profession: House Wife
- Assets & Liabilities (As per 2019 affidavit)
- Assets: Rs 13,09,37,732
- Liabilities: Rs 4,78,97,494
- No Criminal Cases
Faridkot Lok Sabha Constituency: