Badal village declared general for panchayat polls

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, December 7

In the native village of Badals, SAD is likely to field a candidate of the Badal clan for the coming panchayat elections. Similarly, the Congress too may field a candidate close to Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Maheshinder Singh Badal.

During the last two terms of the SAD-BJP government, the post of sarpanch was declared reserved for scheduled caste and schedule caste woman, respectively. Now, after a gap of 10 years, this village is declared general for the coming polls.

Notably, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal too had started his political career by getting elected as the village sarpanch.

Apart from him, a number of people from Badal clan, including Shivraj Singh, Raghuraj Singh (father of Parkash Singh Badal), Mohinder Singh, Paramjit Singh ‘Lalli’ and Sanjam Singh have served as the sarpanch of this VVIP village.

Notably, in 2003, Jaswinder Kaur was the first sarpanch of this village, who did not belong to the Badal clan.

Village residents said there were not even bleak chances of getting a unanimously chosen sarpanch.

“During the panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections, we had heard about Uday Singh to contest the election, who is a relative of Parkash Singh Badal. Similarly, Harnek Singh Neka and Jabarjang Singh are likely candidates of the Congress. The election fever has already gripped the village. Both parties, in a day or two, will hold meetings with their activists and announce the candidates,” locals said.

Former CM started career as sarpanch

• During the last two terms of the SAD-BJP government, the post of sarpanch was declared reserved for scheduled caste and schedule caste woman, respectively. Now, after a gap of 10 years, this village is declared general for the coming polls. 
• Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal too had started his political career by getting elected as the village sarpanch.
• Apart from him, a number of people from Badal clan, including Shivraj Singh, Raghuraj Singh (father of Parkash Singh Badal), Mohinder Singh, Paramjit Singh ‘Lalli’ and Sanjam Singh have served as the sarpanch of this VVIP village

.