Sunny Deol’s entry makes Gurdaspur seat engaging

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, April 24

By fielding actor Sunny Deol against Congress strongman and sitting MP Sunil Jakhar, the BJP has not only ignited a spark within its dormant cadre, but has also catapulted the Gurdaspur constituency as the must watch seat of Punjab in what is being termed as a masterstroke by the party think tank.

Earlier, before the actor’s name was placed in public domain, there was a speculation that Jakhar, like he did in the 2017 bypoll, would be having a free run. The logic being propounded was that the BJP was finding it difficult to find a suitable candidate to match his stature and the party was ready to wash its hands off the constituency by fielding a political novice.

However, as things stand now, Jakhar-Deol duel means the fight will not only go down the wire, but it will be one of the most eagerly watched political battles of the country.

“The BJP has dropped Deol by a parachute. On the other hand, the developmental works initiated by the MP are there for everybody to see,” said Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

Jakhar and his dependable assemblage of seven MLAs claim they have enough ammunition to take on the charismatic Deol.

Jakhar said, “Sunny Deol, who is better known for his acting skills, remains a political novice. He will have to begin from scratch while I have been working to alleviate the problems of my voters ever since they sent me to the Parliament in 2017. I was instrumental in setting up the Rs1,200-crore Pepsi bottling plant in Pathankot which has the potential to generate hundreds of jobs. I also made efforts to start the Rs2715-crore Shahpur Kandi dam project on the Ravi river. The Batala municipal committee was upgraded to a corporation following which more funds are being pumped in for the town’s development. I have also taken up the issue of exploring oil and natural gas reserves in the constituency with the ONGC and Directorate of Hydrocarbons because drilling has been going on across the border. If they can find oil in Pakistan, barely 20 km away, why not in Gurdaspur?”

The MP said that good politics is all about finding a narrative, a cause and selling it to the voters. “Sunny has yet to find his feet in competitive politics. By the time he learns the ropes, it will be quits for him,” he quipped.

“I do not believe in belittling my opponent. If you want to shorten a line, draw a longer one parallel to it. My voters know about the work I am doing. They will never vote for a man who will fly back to Mumbai if he gets elected,” maintained Jakhar.

BJP leaders say Jakhar’s optimism is misplaced. “He became an MP in a bypoll when the state government had just assumed power. Moreover, just before the elections, Capt Amarinder Singh made it a point to attend the Independence Day celebrations in Gurdaspur where he announced a bonanza for the constituency. The fact remains that this poll will be his acid test,” said a BJP MLA.