Ravi Dhaliwal

It is the fundamentalist vote that holds sway in the seat of the Kartarpur corridor. Reason enough why all mainline political outfits are harping on the Bargari sacrilege issue.

“We are indeed sensitive about Bargari. Our MLA is trying to untangle the vexed issue but a lot still needs to be done,” says Lachman Singh, a farmer.

The historical town has numerous lanes and houses preserved since the time of the first Sikh Guru. In the fall of 2018, days before the construction of the corridor began, the Punjab Government not only established the Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority but also released a grant of Rs 172 crore. A new sugar mill is the need of the hour. “We have to take our produce to either to the Paniyar or Batala mill, both of which are equidistant at 35 km. This process can be averted if a mill is set up, preferably at Kalanaur,” says Jaswant Singh, a sugarcane farmer.

The area boasts of the fact that 90 per cent of the seat’s 300-odd villages have installed the Seechewal model of irrigation. MGNREGA works worth Rs 700 crore have also been completed.

Randhawa brought in several development works leading to a makeover of this once sleepy township. His dominance within the Congress on the seat is absolute.

Past trend

The seat came into existence in the 2012 election after the delimitation exercise. In both 2012 and 2017 elections, the SAD presence was substantial and Randhawa, on both occasions, barely managed to scamper home.

Electorate strength

Total voters 1,79,346
Male 96,780
Female 82,561
Third gender 5