Chandigarh, January 19
Yet again, it has been a smooth run only for the politically powerful women in Punjab. One look at the official lists of principal political parties and you know the woman next door has no place in state politics.
The answer is simple - if you want power in Punjab, you must have a powerful family. No wonder all women candidates fielded by the Congress and the SAD are either heirs to political dynasties or relations of “power-wielding” babus and leaders.
Topping the list of “empowered” women in a state is the old Congress hand, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, heir to the political legacy of freedom fighter Hira Singh Bhattal. A four-time MLA, she is again contesting from Lehragagga.
Then there is the late Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh’s daughter Gurkanwal Kaur, contesting from Jalandhar (Cantt) for the second time.
Family clout has come handy for others too. Ms Sukhjinder Kaur Rana, the party’s Kapurthala candidate, owes her place in politics to brother-in-law Rana Gurjit, MP from Jalandhar.
She entered politics after the Kapurthala seat fell vacant following Rana Gurjit’s graduation to Parliament. It was Rana Gurjit who brought in Ms Sukhjinder as replacement. The arrangement has suited the Congress and status quo continues, as it does in the case of Ms Aruna Chaudhary, the second-time Congress candidate from Dinanagar.
Daughter of Mr Jai Muni, former MLA, she is wife of the Joint
Director, Local Bodies, Punjab. Another Congress woman candidate related to a government functionary is Ms Razia Sultana, contesting from Malerkotla for the second time.
Wife of Punjab ADGP, she rides the minority wave. For Mai Rup Kaur, Congress candidate from Dhuri, PPCC’s membership has proved helpful.
The Congress has fielded only one newcomer, Ms Supinder Kalkat, from
Tanda. She is the daughter of formers MLAs Amir Singh Kalkat and Surjit Kalkat.
And if you thought Congress was the only party playing the “power” card, you are mistaken. Even SAD women candidates have envious roots. Bibi Jagi Kaur has been fielded from Bholath. She entered politics at her father-in-law Sant Prem Singh’s behest. Till date she draws strength from the legacy of the dera her father-in-law once ran. Formerly member of the SGPC, she upstaged male rivals to head the SGPC - a post never earlier held by a woman.
Then there are Ms Satwant Sandhu from Chamkaur Sahib and Ms Satwinder Dhaliwal from Amloh . While Ms Sandhu’s husband Jai Singh Sandhu was a famous political leader, Ms Satwinder Dhaliwal’s husband Rajinder Singh Dhaliwal was PWD Minister in the Surjit Singh Barnala government.
Ms Upinderjit and Ms Mohinder Kaur, Akali candidates from Sultanpur Lodhi and Shyam Chaurasi, respectively, are no small fries either. While the former is daughter of Atma Singh, former Akali minister, the latter ‘s father Arjan Singh Josh was member of the SGPC and also MLA from Shyam Chaurasi. Last time Ms Mohinder Kaur contested as an Independent after the Akalis denied her ticket. This time , they have obliged her.
After all, you can’t ignore “powerful women” for long.
