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Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 23
In Patiala, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder’s wife Preneet Kaur recorded a big win — second highest in terms of margin of votes in Punjab and also the highest votes garnered by her in her past three terms as an MP.
The win has also come as a shot in the arm for the CM, who spearheaded the Congress’ Punjab poll campaign.
Congress’ Preneet won the seat by a big margin of over 1,62,718 votes defeating her nearest rival SAD-BJP’s Surjit Singh Rakhra. The results came as a big blow to incumbent MP Nawan Punjab Party’s Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who managed to get 1,61,645 votes — less than the winning margin of Preneet Kaur.
Preneet got a total of 5,32,027 votes in the nine Assembly segments, while her nearest rival Surjit Rakhra managed 3,69,309 votes, followed by Dr Gandhi, who got only 1,61,645 votes. Initially what was termed as a triangular contest turned out to be a two-way contest between the two traditional parties with Preneet Kaur emerging as a winner.
Talking to The Tribune, Preneet Kaur said the entire party cadre worked hard for the win and the biggest factor that contributed to one of my biggest wins till date was that the “MLAs, ministers and all workers worked united and tirelessly” to ensure our party win. “I firmly believed that the people of Patiala have voted for development and have shown belief in the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government,” Preneet said.
“I accept the mandate of people. From our side we worked hard to win this seat for the NDA-led Central government. We will analyse the details and introspect within the party,” Rakhra said.
Dr Gandhi also thanked the voters for the support he has received and said he would continue to voice the concerns of people of Patiala.