Majithia only Akali leader to retain seat

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 11

The only Akali leader, who was able to secure a seat in the 11 Assembly constituencies of the Amritsar district, is Bikram Majithia. The remaining 10 segments were won by the Congress.

An influential Akali leader, Bikarm won from the Majitha Assembly with a thumping majority for the third consecutive time. He did not visit any counting centre.

His rival Congress leader Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia was present at the centre throughout the counting of votes.

The anti-incumbency and wave of change brought the Congress on the forefront in the 10 Assembly segments of the border district.

However, Bikram, who likes to call himself ‘Jarnail’ (general) of Majha, proved his worth as Akali chieftain, who managed to hold his forte in the face of severe undercurrent of change.

He secured maximum 65,803 votes while his rivals Lalli Majithia of the Congress and greenhorn Himmat Singh Shergill of the AAP had to be satisfied with 42,919 and 10,242, respectively.

Bikram Majithia had polled 51,690 votes in the 2007 Assembly election and 73,944 votes in the 2012 poll.

His representative at the counting centre, Talbir Singh Gill, collected his certificate on his behalf. When quizzed about Bikram’s location, he sounded unsure.

Gill said baseless charges of Opposition leaders, including Kejriwal, against Bikram that he was running drug mafia and ‘Gunda Raj’ did not alter the verdict of natives of Majitha. He added that the Akali rule brought tremendous development in the predominantly rural constituency. Later, Bikram appeared at his residence, situated in posh Green Avenue, and accepted bouquets from his supporters.

Bikram, who is also SAD general secretary, congratulated Capt Amarinder Singh over the victory and hoped that the Congress would fulfil all its poll promises, including employment to each member of a family, loan waiver of farmers, housing for all and others. He asserted that the Akali Dal would play a constructive role of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha.

Meanwhile, the Congress candidate, Lalli Majithia, said, “Bikram won with combination of money, muscle and administrative powers”.