Tribune news service
Jalandhar, september 23
Almost confirming tickets for three of the six Akali Dal constituencies in Jalandhar, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said there was no doubt that minister Ajit Singh Kohar, MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala and constituency in charge Baldev Khera would contest elections from Shahkot, Nakodar and Phillaur seats, respectively.
He said this as he was asked as to when the SAD would announce tickets for its candidates. Sukhbir, who was at a sangat darshan programme here, said, “We don’t need to get and tell Kohar or Wadala that you will get tickets from your constituencies. This is already clear that they will be repeated. Khera, too, has been announced as the constituency in charge from Phillaur and will surely be the candidate from here. That way, almost all our candidates know where they will contest from. Even public has got the message and we don’t need to announce it.”
On Jalandhar Cantonment constituency wherefrom at least five party leaders are in the race, Sukhbir said, “We are still trying to make out who is the most suitable candidate.” Asked if it could be Doaba Youth Akali Dal president Sarabjot Singh Saabi or Jaspal Singh Dhesi, brother of SGPC member Paramjit Singh Raipur, he said, “We have not decided on any name as yet.”
Quizzed about the Kartarpur constituency, Sukhbir said, “We are yet to decide on that as well.” Similarly, as the name of Adampur MLA Pawan Tinu was asked as those repeating in 2017, he did not reply and switched to another simultaneously asked question.