Akalis raise stakes in Ferozepur

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, March 31

Amid speculations of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal contesting from Ferozepur, the Akali Dal has stepped up canvassing in this border region with a series of rallies and meetings.

Earlier, the SAD chief had held several meetings with the party workers, which included closed-door interactions with senior leaders.

It is now being followed by another series of rallies in which Youth Akali Dal chief Bikram Majithia is asking the party workers to gear up for the upcoming political battle. To date, the SAD has organised almost a dozen rallies in Ferozepur, Fazilka and Muktsar districts.

Addressing a huge congregation of YAD workers here, Majithia tried to gauge the pulse of party workers again before any formal announcement of the candidate.

In Guruharsahai and Ferozepur (rural) segments, Akali leaders and workers pledged to work unflinchingly to ensure Sukhbir’s victory. Majithia also visited the residence of former Akali leader Ratinder Singh Saiyanwala, Janmeja Singh Sekhon and former BJP MLA Sukhpal Nannu to drum up support.

He also had one-on-one interactions with several Akali MLAs and former MLAs, including Joginder Singh Jindu, who is not on cordial terms with Sekhon.

The SAD has retained this seat for five consecutive terms since 1998 when Zora Singh Mann won it after a gap of 20 years.

In the last two terms, Sher Singh Ghubaya got elected from this seat, but after his switching over to Congress, the Akali leadership is weighing its options.