.
Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra
Age : 35 years
Constituency : Sanour (Patiala)
Party : SAD
Education : Law graduate
USP: Son of Akali MP Prem Singh Chandumajra
His father’s voice
Son of SAD’s Anandpur Sahib MP and party general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, Harinderpal quotes Shri Guru Granth Sahib frequently as he interacts with his supporters during his campaign. A former managing director of a cooperative society, he first contested the co-operative polls. When the party elevated him as halqa in-charge of Sanour constituency a few months back, it lead to heartburn within SAD. But Chandumajra soon stabilized the party campaign. Harinder played a crucial role in getting two roads that pass through Sanour converted into national highways, helped as he was by his father.
“My priority is to enhance employment avenues for the youth,” he says. “We are now connected with thousands of people in Sanour through Facebook. We also reach out to the people through
WhatsApp,” he says. “My father has spent his life serving the people. I want to take forward the work started by him.” — Manish Sirhindi/Patiala
Parambans Singh Romana (Bunty)
Age : 38 years
Constituency : Faridkot
Party : SAD
Education : MA, PU
USP: SAD’s youth wing leader
Akali youth power behind him
Known for his closeness with Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Bunty is chairman Punjab State Youth Development Board, set up for the first time in Punjab six month back. He was previously chairman, Improvement Trust Faridkot. As a coordinator of SAD’s youth wing, the Students Organization of India (SOI), he enjoys its full support. A private contractor by profession, Bunty Romana is proud of ‘unprecedented’ development that Punjab and this area made in the last decade -- sewerage is strengthened and electricity reached all farmers. Many in his constituency say he has yet to mature as a politician. “As an SOI leader, he has to work a lot to be able to contest as MLA. He has to reach out to all sections,” says Ramandeep Deep, a student. — Balwant Garg/Faridkot
Rajesh Kumar Honey
Age : 41 years
Constituency : Amritsar (East)
Party : BJP
Education : BA, LL.B
USP: A local resident
Here is BJP commando
The BJP has chosen him against Congress’s likely candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu or his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu. He has been a Councillor in 2007 and 2012 from Ward No 27. “I am BJP commando. Don’t underestimate me as only commandos do surgical strikes. It is good that the challenge is bigger. I will strike with double my strength,” he says.
“I belong to the constituency. That’s my strength.” Rajesh Honey joined the BJP in 1992. His family is into hospitality business. “My grandfather was a Jan Sangh activist. My father was elected councilor on a BJP ticket. So I feel BJP is in my blood. The time of part-time politics is over. Now it is a 24x7 affair. The people are educated and you have to be with them all the time.”
He says the area needs sewerage and potable water. “I will make effort to facilitate them.” Honey has been using all the new media technologies for his campaign. A separate social media cell has been set up at the party office. A 15-minute documentary has been made to introduce Honey to the voters. — Charanjit Singh Teja in Amritsar
Dalvir Singh Khangura (Goldy)
Age : 37 years
Constituency : Dhuri (Sangrur)
Party : Congress
Education : MA, PU
USP: ‘No alternative to Congress’
No family agenda for him
He has been a student leader, having been president of the Students’ Organization of Panjab University (SOPU) for two consecutive years 2000-01& 2001-02. He says there no alternative to Congress. He has been working for the people of the constituency for a decade. The Dhuri constituency has 74 villages. I started an NGO, Ashirwaad Foundation, to helps the poor and needy students, particularly girl students.”
For him unemployment and drugs are the major issues. He also sees development deficit in Dhuri. “The lone hospital needs to be upgraded. The bus stand, too, is in need of renovation. Two of the bridges in Dhuri are in a bad condition.” Active on social media, his visits to the villages make way to the Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups.
Amit Vij
Age : 39 years
Constituency : Pathankot
Party : Congress
Education : B.Tech (Electronics)
USP: Technocrat
Time to create jobs, but how?
He quit his high-profile job of vice president (corporate affairs), Reliance Industries Limited and headed to the Congress office. “The Industrial Growth Centre, set up with much fanfare some years ago in over 400 acres adjoining J&K and HP, has just two industrial units against the capacity of 254 units. If we convince industrialists to set up base here, thousands of employment opportunities can be generated. I have chalked out some plans,” says Amit. He says he is not new to politics. “My father, Anil Vij, is the president of the Pathankot District Congress Committee. Some of my relatives are also active in politics,” he says.
What made him give up a lucrative job? “I always wanted to serve the people of the city where I was born and brought up. I did my schooling from St Joseph’s Convent School and later I did my graduation in non-medical from S.D College. I have developed a strong bond with the locals.” — Ravi Dhaliwal in Faridkot
Rupinder Ruby
Age : 28 years
Constituency : Bathinda
Party : AAP
Education : PG (law), pursuing Ph.D
USP: Early campaigner
‘I will clear this exam too’
She recently cracked the NET (National Eligibility Test) exam. Rupinder Ruby thinks she is ahead of her political rivals in campaigning. “It is as if I am revising my book ahead of exams while my opponents have just begun studying,” she says, laughing.
“We have finished the process of canvassing twice and have started meeting workers and supporters again at village-level rallies,” she said. “There are 61 villages in the constituency, and each village has similar problems. The issues continue to revolve around a vicious cycle of illiteracy, unemployment and drugs.”
She says people are still unable to get water in most villages — both for irrigation and drinking — and farmers in debt trap are committing suicide. “We have told voters that if they give a chance to my party to govern, then things would change completely. We will bring an end to the system of doing things only for sycophants,” she said. — Gurdeep Singh Mann in Bathinda
Balwinder Singh Sahota
Age : 39 years
Constituency : Amritsar (West)
Party : AAP
Education : MSc (Statistics)
USP: Local links, education
For him, it’s time for people power
He belongs to Indira Colony, a slum area in Kot Khalsa in Amritsar. Since his father was the sole earner, Sahota had to juggle between daily wage jobs and low-paying part-time stints in the GNDU administration to support his education.
“We were five siblings. Providing a stable income to the family was a priority. My locality was full of school dropouts and drug addicts and none managed to reach college,” says Balwinder Singh Sahota. After post-graduation, he went on to work for MNCs in the US, Europe and Thailand. Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal inspired him. In 2011, Sahota had had just returned from Thailand, leaving his six figure-salary and potentially hi-end career as a software engineer in the hope of serving his own people. “I was a keen observer of the anti-corruption movement. I knew it was time for change. That’s what AAP aims to do in Punjab.”
He sees polluted water, choked sewerages and absence of power as main issues. “I know most people in the area, so it gives a personal touch to my campaign.” — Neha Saini in Amritsar
Most Read In 24 Hours
Don't Miss
View All
Top News
Phase-2 campaign ends, fate of Rahul Gandhi, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, HD Kumaraswamy, Hema Malini to be sealed
88 seats up for grabs across 13 states | Polling to conclude...
INDIA VOTES 2024: BJP, INDIA bloc lock horns in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh for Phase-II
In last-ditch efforts, parties hold roadshows, rallies ahead...
