5 state MPs have Ludhiana connect

Minna Zutshi
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 5

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Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, has emerged as the new political centre. As many as five MPs have their residences and offices in this district that traces its origin to Mir Hota village where a Lodhi chief had camped — hence the name “Lodhi-ana” (town of the Lodhis).

Incidentally, all five MPs are from the Congress, which is ruling the state. Ludhiana LS MP Ravneet Singh Bittu’s ancestral village falls in Ludhiana district. Faridkot LS MP Mohammad Sadiq has his residence in Barewal area of Ludhiana city. A folk artiste-turned-politician whose popularity still has not waned among the generation that heard him sing duets with Ranjit Kaur, Sadiq has more than 40 years’ association with Ludhiana.

Shamsher Singh Dullo, Rajya Sabha MP, has his home and office at Khanna town in the district. Born and brought up in Khanna, he was a student leader in 1960s. According to Dullo, Ludhiana, once called the Manchester of Punjab, is now grappling with two serious problems — depleting water table and increasing air pollution.

Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh, too, has his residence and office in Ludhiana. Five Assembly segments of the Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha constituency fall in Ludhiana district.

Former Union minister Manish Tewari, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Anandpur Sahib, had earlier won from the Ludhiana seat in 2009. Tewari has retained his house and office in Ludhiana. A voter registered in Ludhiana, Tewari is keen to continue his association with Ludhiana. His grandfather, Tirath Singh Gurm, belonged to Duburji village in Payal tehsil of Ludhiana district.