No three-time MP from Bathinda

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 29

If Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal wins the Lok Sabha elections this time from Bathinda, she will be the first MP to represent the constituency for three times. So far, no MP has managed to do so.

Ajit Singh of the Congress was elected from Bathinda twice in 1952 and 1957 Lok Sabha elections.

In 1962, Dhanna Singh Gulshan of the SAD had won the elections after defeating Ajit Singh.

In 1967, Kikar Singh (Sant group) was elected from Bathinda in the fourth Lok Sabha. In 1971, Bhan Singh Bhaura of the CPI had won the elections by defeating Bhagat Singh of the SAD. In 1977, Dhanna Singh Gulshan had again won the seat.

In 1980, Hakam Singh of the Congress had defeated two-time MP Dhanna Singh. In 1985, Teja Singh Dardi of the SAD won the Lok Sabha polls from Bathinda. In 1989, Sucha Singh of the SAD (M) had become the MP from Bathinda.

In 1992, Kewal Singh of the Congress had represented Bathinda in Parliament. In 1996, Harinder Singh Khalsa won the Lok Sabha elections from here on the SAD ticket. In 1998, Chatan Singh Samao of the SAD was elected as MP from here.

In 1999, Bhan Singh Bhura of the CPI had defeated Chatan Singh Samao of the SAD. In 2004, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan of the SAD won the elections from Bathinda.

In 2009 and 2014, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the SAD represented Bathinda in Parliament.

According to the trend, no MP has managed to retain his seat for a third time. Earlier, Ajit Singh of the Congress and Dhanna Singh Gulshan of the SAD, who tried their luck from the seat for the third time, had lost the elections.

It is learnt that the statistics are likely to be one of the reasons for delay in the announcement of Harsimrat’s candidature from Bathinda. Speculations are also rife that the party may shift her seat to Ferozepur.

Though she has started holding meetings with party workers in the Bathinda parliament constituency at her residence in Badal village, she is yet to hit the campaign trail on the ground.

TREND 

• According to the trend, no MP has managed to retain his seat for a third time. Earlier, Ajit Singh of the Congress and Dhanna Singh Gulshan of the SAD, who tried their luck from the seat for a third time, had lost the elections. 
• It is learnt that the statistics are likely to be one of the reasons for delay in the announcement of Harsimrat’s candidature from Bathinda.