Kolianwali keeps low profile this time

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), May 2

Senior SAD leader Dyal Singh Kolianwali, who is out on bail in a disproportionate assets case registered by the state Vigilance Bureau last year, is not much active this time in comparison to the previous elections.

Notably, Kolianwali, a close aide of the Badals, has served as Muktsar SAD district president during the previous SAD-BJP regime. Besides, he has remained on several key positions, including a member of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) and ex-chairman of Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation.

Kolianwali, who is also a sitting SGPC member, is presently focusing on the Sarawan area in Lambi.

His son Parminder Singh Kolianwali has been campaigning along with Parkash Singh Badal’s personal assistant Gurcharan Singh for party candidate from the Bathinda parliamentary constituency Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Sources in the SAD said that the Badal family had restricted Kolianwali to a particular area in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Earlier, he was seen moving with the Badals in other parts of the state as well, but now the picture has changed. He is confined only to just a few villages,” said the sources.

Meanwhile, a senior SAD leader from Lambi, on condiction of anonymity, said, “This time, all main leaders in Lambi have been given the charge of five to six villages. All have to work only in the assigned villages. Biba ji (Harsimrat) is expected to tour the Lambi Assembly segment for two days next week. Similarly, Sukhbir Badal will also campaign for her for two days. Besides, Jagmeet Brar will spend two days in Lambi.”

On being asked, Parminder Singh Kolianwali said, “I was accompanying Badal Sahib (Parkash Singh Badal) on Thursday. My father is also active in the area and looking after all the villages assigned to us in the past. There is some health issue and nothing else.”