Malwa: Cong wrests Akali stronghold

Varinder Singh

And Minna Zutsi

Tribune News Service

Bathinda\\Ludhiana, March 11

Razing the AAP citadel in Malwa to the ground, the Congress staged a major victory in the region bagging 40 of the 69 seats.

AAP has suffered a major setback despite seeing a huge surge on ground. Expecting a lion’s share of 69 Malwa seats, the party has to contend with just 18 seats. AAP prominent leader Bhagwant Mann, who had held impressive rallies, suffered a rather humiliating defeat at hands of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal. In Ludhiana, the party registered its win in Jagraon, Dakha and Raikot. Baljinder Kaur, another prominent leader, defeated Khushbaj Jattana of the Congress and veteran Jeet Mohinder Sidhu of the SAD.

AAP stalwart Bhagwant Mann, who had impressive rallies, suffered a rather humiliating defeat at hands of the Deputy CM. In Ludhiana, AAP registered win in Jagraon, Dakha and Raikot. Baljinder Kaur, a prominent leader of the AAP, defeated Khushbaj Jattana of the Congress and veteran Jeet Mohinder Sidhu who contested on the SAD ticket.

The Congress victory in the region, even bigger than the party’s own calculations as stated by PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh, has dealt a severe blow to the Akali Dal.

The Congress won eight of 14 seats in Ludhiana district, seven of eight in Patiala and all three segments in Fatehgarh Sahib. The Congress victory was, however, eclipsed by the defeat suffered by its senior leaders Sunil Jakhar from Abohar and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from Leharagaga.

A prominent SAS leader, Sikander Singh Maluka lost in Rampura Phul to Gurpreet Kangar of the Congress by 10,385 votes. SAD minister Jathedar Tota Singh (Dharamkot) and his son Barjinder Singh Makhan Brar (Moga) both lost to Congress candidates.

Equally surprising was the big margin of the loss of SAD general secretary Dr Daljit Singh Cheema in Ropar. He was polled just 31,903 votes against 58,994 by Amarjit Singh Sandoa (winner) of AAP.

The BJP too had its share of shock as one of its top leaders Surjit Kumar Jiyani lost his Fazilka bastion to Congress’ Davinder Singh Ghubaya by a thin margin of 265 votes. The Bains brothers of the Lok Insaaf Party retained Ludhiana South (Balwinder Singh Bains) and Atam Nagar (Simarjeet Singh Bains).

The SAD was able to win only from one seat in Ludhiana district – Sahnewal Assembly constituency. Sharanjit Dhillon, Irrigation Minister in SAD-BJP tenure, won from Sahnewal. In Patiala, the SAD registered its win from Sanour seat.

The voters, particularly upper middle class and the business community, showed little faith in the youth force of AAP mainly because of its wrong choice of candidates. The Dera Sacha Sauda’s last minute support to the SAD also did not make any significant impact.