Nemesis catches up with SAD as Manpreet wins

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 11

A complete rout of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance was registered today as the results sprung a never-before-seen verdict for Bathinda district.

Voters showed all SAD-BJP alliance candidates the door making the Congress and AAP candidates win three seats each in the six constituencies of the district.

Earlier, of the six constituencies, Bathinda (Urban), Bathinda (Rural), Rampura Phul, Talwandi Sabo and Maur had SAD MLAs while Bhucho had Congress candidate.

After the counting of votes today, Bathinda (Urban), Rampura Phul and Bhucho seats have gone to the Congress while Bathinda (Rural), Talwandi Sabo and Maur have gone in the kitty of AAP.

Manpreet Badal won from Bathinda (Urban) seat, defeating AAP candidate Deepak Bansal by 18,480 votes.

While Manpreet polled 63,942 votes, Bansal polled 45,462 votes. Sitting SAD MLA from the constituency, Sarup Chand Singla managed to secure the third position with 37,177 votes.

“The party will analyse the cause of the defeat. We hope that the Congress will keep its promises and implement its manifesto in letter and spirit. As a resident of Punjab, I also want a good government since the SAD-BJP alliance has ruined the state. We will make a good opposition as it would help in good governance,” said Deepak Bansal while leaving the counting centre at Institute of Hotel Management after round 13 of counting.

Fighting his first election, Jagdev Singh Kamalu defeated the SAD heavyweight Janmeja Singh Sekhon by a margin of 14,677.

While Kamalu polled 62,282 votes, Sekhon polled 47,605 votes and Congress’ Harminder Singh Jassi finished third with 23,087 votes.

Sukhraj Singh Natt, who was a Congress ticket hopeful from Maur and had fought the election as an independent candidate after the ticket was allotted to Jassi, managed to poll only 1,938 votes.

State president of the women’s wing of AAP, Baljinder Kaur claimed the Talwandi Sabo seat by defeating Congress’ Khushbaaz Singh Jattana by a margin of 19,293.

While Kaur polled 54,553 votes, 35,260 votes went to Jattana who fought his first elections.

Sitting SAD MLA Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu was third with 34,473 votes.

As the results of rounds of counting began pouring in, Jattana conceded his defeat and left the counting centre.

SAD heavyweight and cabinet minister Sikander Singh Maluka had to face the defeat at the hands of old rival and Congress candidate Gurpreet Singh Kangar in Rampura Phul constituency.

Kangar, who polled 55,269 votes, won the seat by a margin of 10,385 votes. While Maluka polled 44,884 votes, Manjit Singh of AAP got 32,693 votes.

Seeing that his defeat was imminent, Maluka along with his son Gurpreet Singh, and supporters left the counting centre around 11.30 am.

“The party will look into the causes of the defeat. The anti-incumbency factor worked against the SAD-BJP alliance,” said Maluka.

Rupinder Kaur Ruby, who also fought her maiden election, registered victory over SAD candidate by a margin of 10,778 votes.

While Ruby polled 51,572 votes, 40,794 votes went to SAD’s Amit Rattan and 28,939 went to Congress’ Harwinder Singh Laddi.

Congress also managed to retain the Bhucho seat, albeit by a thin margin.

Congress candidate Pritam Singh Kotbhai won the seat by a margin of only 645 votes.

While Kotbhai polled 51,605 votes, AAP candidate Jagsir Singh polled 50,960 votes and Harpreet Singh of SAD polled 44,025 votes.

sikander singh maluka faces defeat

• SAD heavyweight and cabinet minister Sikander Singh Maluka had to face the defeat at the hands of old rival and Congress candidate Gurpreet Singh Kangar in Rampura Phul constituency
• Kangar, who polled 55,269 votes, won the seat by a margin of 10,385 votes. While Maluka polled 44,884 votes, Manjit Singh of AAP got 32,693 votes
• Seeing that his defeat was imminent, Maluka along with his son Gurpreet Singh, and supporters left the counting centre around 11.30 am
• Rupinder Kaur Ruby, who also fought her maiden election, registered victory over SAD candidate

Manpreet defeats bansal by 18,480 votes

• Manpreet Badal won from Bathinda (Urban) seat, defeating AAP candidate Deepak Bansal by 18,480 votes
• Fighting his first election, Jagdev Singh Kamalu defeated the SAD heavyweight Janmeja Singh Sekhon by a margin of 14,677 in Maur
• While Kamalu polled 62,282 votes, Sekhon polled 47,605 votes and Congress’ Harminder Singh Jassi finished third with 23,087 votes

Maiden win for ruby

• Rupinder Kaur Ruby, who also fought her maiden election, registered victory over SAD candidate by a margin of 10,778 votes
• While Ruby polled 51,572 votes, 40,794 votes went to SAD’s Amit Rattan and 28,939 went to Congress’ Harwinder Singh Laddi
• Congress also managed to retain the Bhucho seat
• Congress candidate Pritam Singh Kotbhai won the seat by a margin of only 645 votes
• While Kotbhai polled 51,605 votes, AAP candidate Jagsir Singh polled 50,960 votes and Harpreet Singh of SAD polled 44,025 votes

It’s baljinder’s day

• State president of the women’s wing of AAP, Baljinder Kaur claimed the Talwandi Sabo seat by defeating Congress’ Khushbaaz Singh Jattana by a margin of 19,293
• While Kaur polled 54,553 votes, 35,260 votes went to Jattana