Satpal Mal banks on his works for Dalit community

JALANDHAR: Having worked for over two decades with the Sri Guru Ravidass Educational and Charitable Trust and served for long at Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Satpal Mal is going quite confident with his maiden elections from the Kartarpur constituency.

The SAD candidate from the Kartarpur constituency, Satpal Mal, with his supporters. A Tribune Photograph

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 13

Having worked for over two decades with the Sri Guru Ravidass Educational and Charitable Trust and served for long at Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Satpal Mal is going quite confident with his maiden elections from the Kartarpur constituency.

Maintaining a low profile in the Congress for the past over 20 years, Mal was a protégé of former PPCC president Partap Bajwa. A claimant from the Adampur constituency this time, he worked there aggressively till he all of a sudden announced to join the Akali Dal. The Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had visited his place at Bootan Mandi a few months ago to rope him in the party and two months later announced him as candidate.

Dealing in raw tanning work, Mal is also banking on his links in the business. “My business partner hails from Kartarpur and he is helping me a lot. My maternal grandparents and my in-laws too are from this constituency. Also the fact that one leg of Kartarpur falls in Lambra just a way ahead of Bootan Mandi, I have many contacts in this area”, claims the Akali candidate, who is also the president of the Punjab Hide and Skin Association.

Initially, there had been some resistance to the new Akali leader from the local jathedars and market committee members. Party leaders Ranjit Singh Kahlon, Rajinder Singh Nagra and Tajinder Nijjar are all by my side, said Mal.

He added, “A two-day sangat darshan that CM Parkash Singh Badal organised in my area just after my announcement as candidate came as a big boon to me. Many pending works of the area could be completed.”

Mal will, however, surely face trouble from Sarwan Singh Phillaur, his son Damanvir Phillaur and Avinash Chander, who have remained Akali Dal MLAs here. Phillaur, who was elected from here in 2012, has moved to Congress but has not got a ticket. Avinash, who was an MLA here in 2007, is yet to align with any party but will surely work against him.

Mal is facing contest from other first timers Chandan Grewal, former Safai Mazdur Union president and Aam Aadmi Party candidate, Congress candidate Surinder Chaudhary, son of former minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, and BSP candidate Balwinder Kumar.

Mal’s wife Kamlesh, son Davinder Banti, daughter-in-law Rekha and daughter Kiran are all campaigning for him in separate groups in 192 villages of the constituency.