Except in 1962, no one has won election twice in city

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 13

Looking back at the past record of elections in the Bathinda (Urban) constituency, a fact that stands out is that except in 1962, no one has been elected twice as MLA from this seat.

In 1962, sitting MLA and Congress leader Harbans Lal contested the election for the second from here and won.

He also contested for the third time in 1967, but was defeated by an independent candidate.

After that till 1997, no candidate tried his luck for another term from this constituency.

In the 1997 election, sitting Congress MLA Surinder Kapoor tried his luck again, but was defeated by SAD candidate Chiranji Lal Garg.

In 2012, Congress fielded the sitting MLA Harmander Singh Jassi from here but he was defeated by SAD candidate Sarup Chand Singla.

This year, SAD has fielded Sarup Chand Singla again from Bathinda (Urban).

In the last 13 elections that have taken place till date, Congress party nominees have won seven times — 1957, 1962, 1972, 1980, 1992, 2002 and 2007.

SAD candidate has won four times — 1969, 1985, 1997 and 2012.

While only once in 1967, an independent candidate won the election from here. In 1977, Janta National Party won the election from here.

Going by the community-wise data, Sikh candidates have able to win the Assembly elections only thrice from here while Hindu candidates have won 10 times.