Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced 7 of the 13 Punjab Lok Sabha Candidates on Saturday. The Akali Dal did not announce the candidates for prominent constituencies which include Bathinda, Ferozepur, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. Suprisingly, Akali Dal did not announce Harsimrat Kaur Badal in first list of candidates. What makes this surprising is the fact that Harsimrat Kaur is currently the sitting MP from Bathinda.
As per political experts, the reason for this is likely that Parampal Kaur Sidhu, who is the daughter-in-law of SAD senior member Sikandar Singh Maluka, has joined the BJP. Sources inform that she is likely to get the ticket in Bathinda, and that could result in a tough contest for Badal. Not only this, if Congress gives the ticket to Amrita Warring, then it becomes an even tougher competition for SAD. Keeping this in mind, the experts say that SAD has decided to adopt a wait-and-watch approach in Bathinda.
The Akali Dal is also reprehensive of turncoats in the party as per sources. The party is currently stuck regarding the Jalandhar and Ludhiana constituency. As per sources, SAD is mulling over Pawan Kumar Tinu, and 2 time Bangu MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi for the Jalandhar seat. Sources inform that SAD could face a member leaving the party if one of them does not get the ticket. It is pertinent to note that Sukhi was the SAD’s choice of candidate in the 2022 Jalandhar bypolls. The party faces a similar dilemma in Ludhiana with Manpreet Singh Ayali and Ex-Mayor Haracharan Singh Gohalwaria as per party sources.
Meanwhile, in Khadoor Sahib, SAD supremo Sukhbir Badal's brother-in-laws Vikram Majithia and Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon are both gunning for the LS ticket. Majithia is the younger brother of Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon in married to Sukhbir Badal’s sister, Parneet Kaur. Experts say that SAD is holding off on announcing the candidates over fear of the member who misses out on a ticket leaving the party.
The SAD has announced 7 candidates in its first list, which is as follows:
- Dr Daljit Singh Cheema from Gurdaspur.
- Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra from Sri Anandpur Sahib.
- NK Sharma from Patiala.
- Anil Joshi from Sri Amritsar Sahib.
- Bikramjit Singh Khalsa from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib.
- Rajwinder Singh (Grandson of late S Gurdev Singh Badal) from Faridkot.
- Iqbal Singh Jhoonda from Sangrur