Putting speculation to rest, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday fielded Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat while his wife and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal was renominated from Bathinda.

The announcement was made by SAD supremo and five-time former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in Muktsar. “It has been decided that SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal will fight from Ferozepur and Harsimrat will contest from Bathinda,” he said.

Sukhbir and Harsimrat have been holding public and workers’ meetings in Ferozepur and Bathinda constituencies for the past several days.

Both will file their nomination papers on April 26 after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, as per the party statement.

Sukhbir is pitted against Akali rebel and Congress nominee Sher Singh Ghubaya.

“Sukhbir hasn’t worked at ground level. People will teach him a lesson in this election,” said Ghubaya.

Party spokesperson and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema said the decision to field Sukhbir, who is the SAD president and a legislator from the Jalalabad assembly seat (part of Ferozepur constituency), was taken following a strong demand from party leaders and workers of the Lok Sabha seat.

“Besides respecting the sentiments of party leaders and
workers, Parkash Singh Badal also took opinion of the senior leadership and core committee members,” said Cheema.

After taking a final opinion of leaders and workers of both the alliance partners -- BJP and SAD -- of the Ferozepur constituency Monday night, the Akali stalwart announced Sukhbir as the party candidate from Ferozepur, he said.

According to the core committee of the SAD, fielding Sukhbir from Ferozepur will not only send a positive message to the rank and file but also improve prospects of the party in the parliamentary election.

Sukhbir had contested the Lok Sabha polls from the Faridkot seat thrice -- 1998, 1999 and 2004. He had won in 1998 and 2004.

Two-time MP and Union minister Harsimrat was renominated as the party candidate from Bathinda after considering her “incredible performance as a cabinet minister who ushered her constituency into a fast growing region by bringing major central projects, including the prestigious AIIMS project”.

Harsimrat will face Congress nominee and MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring from Bathinda. AAP candidate Baljinder Kaur and Punjabi Ekta Party candidate and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira are also contesting from the Bathinda parliamentary constituency

First Published: Apr 24, 2019 03:17 IST