Badals’ Sangat Darshan? Not in my backyard, says Kohar

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 9

Transport Minister and Shahkot MLA Ajit Singh Kohar (76) – who has contested five elections and won four times in a row — stands out as arguably the only Akali leader who prefers not to extend an invite to the Badals to hold Sangat Darshan programmes in his constituency.

Over the years, Kohar has modelled himself on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. It’s not just the flowing white beard and the towering presence that they have in common. Both are early birds. Kohar claims that his day begins at 3 am and he is available for his voters at his residence in Kohar Khurd village by 5 am. “I have a daily Sangat Darshan for people of my constituency for three hours without fail. Since I am doing it myself so rigorously, I have even told Badal saab not to worry about my area and instead utilise his precious time in other constituencies,” he says.

“Whatever grants I need, I get promptly from the CM. He recently gave me Rs90 crore for the nagar panchayats of Mehatpur, Shahkot and Lohian, besides funds for 230 villages,” adds Kohar.

He claims to have told Badal not to spare time for campaigning in Shahkot. “I’m not keen on rallies. It will be only on January 16, the day I will file my nomination papers, that I will organise a programme.”

Like Badal, Kohar began his political career at the village level. “I was a sarpanch for 40 years. I entered big-time politics much later. In hindsight, it was a wise decision; otherwise, I would have got knocked out by now.”

In another similarity, the two leaders use the names of their village as their surnames. Kohar’s actual surname is Sidhu.

Both hold back-to-back village meetings in one area, remaining seated on a chair and beginning with these words, “Guru pyari sadh sangat ji”. Kohar is no less smart than the CM in evading queries on controversial issues.

Firmly believing that “health is wealth”, the minister exercises every morning. “I consume a bowl of fresh curd. I only take home-cooked meals. My daughter-in-law ensures that my lunch is packed and kept in the vehicle at 8 am before I leave home,” he says.

Kohar’s early-morning Sangat Darshan keeps local officials on their toes. He quips, “Mein ohnan nu kehnda ke rajai ch paye raho buss mera phone zaroor sun lao (I tell them to remain snug in their quilts but do attend my call).”

However, in stark contrast to Badal, Kohar has not yet brought his son or grandsons into active politics. “My son, Naib Singh, does all the management for me. He organises the meetings and makes all the calls on my behalf, but remains behind the scenes. I earlier planned to bring my elder grandson, Bachitar Singh, but dropped the idea later. Maybe one of the jathedars of this area will be my political heir,” he says, bringing smiles on the faces of his loyalists.