Not named yet, Harsimrat campaigns in Bathinda

Perneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 22

The high-profile Lok Sabha constituency and an Akali bastion, Bathinda, is witnessing a peculiar situation this time, as the SAD is yet to announce its candidate despite the nomination process kicking in today. The Congress has named Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring from the constituency.

Interestingly, the two parties were engaged in a battle of wits till April 20, when the Congress decided to blink first and announced its candidates for Bathinda and Ferozepur. It would be Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s third election from prestigious Bathinda seat, if the SAD allots her ticket. This is the first time that she has embarked on the poll campaign even though the party is yet to announce her candidature.

She has been mobilising party workers and holding public meetings in the constituency for more than a month now, although not at full throttle. This scenario is in stark contrast to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when her candidature was announced much in advance and the Badal family had gone all out to campaign for her.

Harsimrat, meanwhile, evaded media queries on the announcement of her candidature during her visit to the grain market here today.

Political observers feel that the delay in announcement of the candidate is doing no good to the party which is still facing backlash and anger over sacrilege and subsequent firing incidents in 2015. It has given an opportunity to the other parties to take potshots at the SAD. Their rivals are alleging that the SAD is scared to enter the electoral arena in Bathinda in view of the sacrilege issue.

However, former SAD minister Sikander Singh Maluka said, “I don’t see the delay in announcement of candidate doing any harm to us. Our campaign is well on the track and we will announce our candidate as per the party’s strategy.”

Meanwhile, Warring has hit the ground running, opening his election offices in different Assembly segments and reaching out to party leaders, seeking their support. He also made it a point to pay visit to leaders such as former MLA Ajit Inder Singh Mofar and Gurmeet Singh Khudian who too were in race for ticket from Bathinda. He has also started connecting with the people. He had dinner at a daily wager’s house at Badal village last night, while he met morning walkers at a park in the city today.