From a lecturer to proven political strategist for SAD

PATIALA: When Sant Harchand Singh Longowal met a young Prem Singh from Chandumajra village during the height of militancy in Punjab, he saw a spark in the young student of economics and political science and soon initiated him into politics.



Almost 38 years down the line, Prem Singh Chandumajra has borne out the perception of the former president of the Shiromani Akali Dal as he has gone on to become a proven political strategist for the Akalis, coupled with a track record of having won several challenging electoral contests during his political career.

While working as a After working a teacher, he came in contact with Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and was introduced to politics, an art that he almost perfected as preferred lieutenant of Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He became the first president of the Youth Akali Dal in 1982, a post he held till 1992. Chandumajra became an MLA in 1985, representing Dakala constituency in Patiala. He also became minister for cooperation in Surjit Singh Barnala government. He became an MP in 1996 by defeating Sant Ram Singla and in 1998 by defeating Capt Amarinder Singh from Patiala.

By this time, things between Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra started to go sour and the two leaders decided to part ways. Chandumajra went with Tohra, who floated his own political party All India Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD). He contested the next Lok Sabha elections again from Patiala on AISAD in 2004, but was defeated by Congress candidate and Capt Amarinder’s wife Preneet Kaur. After the death of Tohra, Chandumajra floated SAD (Longowal), which he later merged into SAD in 2007.

“I have started touring my constituency and from the response I have been getting, I am sure that SAD will win this seat irrespective of competition,” he claims.