Constituency watch: Shahkot

By Aparna Banerji

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SHAHKOT constituency was created in 2008 after the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission. Before 2008, it was known as the Lohian constituency. Traditionally, Shahkot had been a stronghold of the Akalis. Since 1977 it was won by the Shiromani Akali Dal candidates eight times —1977, 1980, 1985, 1997, 2002, 2007 (as Lohian consituency) and after delimitation as Shahkot in 2012 and 2017. The seat was won by SAD leader Ajit Singh Kohar consecutively for five times in 1997, 2007 and 2002 and after delimitation as Shahkot in 2012 and 2017. The Congress won only twice here in 1992 and after delimitation in 2018 bypoll. It is a rural constituency with many of its areas falling near Sutlej. Farming is the backbone of Shahkot’s agrarian economy and majority of its vote bank comprises farmers. Here are the main candidates from the seat:

Hardev S Ladi Sherowalia

Party: Congress

Age: 54 years

Qualification: Matriculate

Background: He is the nephew of Congress stalwart Darbara Singh. Having won the Shahkot constituency with a huge margin in the 2018 Shahkot bypolls, he was the first Congress leader in a long time to have broken the SAD spell from the seat after defeating Naib Kohar. The seat fell vacant following the death of Akali Dal legislator Ajit Singh Kohar, Naib’s father. Ladi’s name was announced amid an illegal mining row but the gamble paid off with him winning with a huge margin. Having pursued his education from Malsian, Ladi was formerly a director in a co-operative bank. Having formally joined the Congress in 2001, he remained state secretary of the party. He had lost from Shahkot in 2017 and will be contesting from the seat for the third time in the 2022 elections.

Priorities: 1. Push to health infra

2. Better education facilities and opening of new schools

3. Cleaning of Chitti Bein

Bachitar Singh Kohar

Party: Shiromani Akali Dal

Age: 32 years

Qualification: Graduate

Background: Having pursued his high school education from the Guru Nanak Public School, Chandigarh, Bachitar Singh, the grandson of the Akali Dal patriarch Ajit Singh Kohar, did BALLB from the Punjabi University, Patiala. The demise of his grandfather came as a turning point in his life as his active foray into politics began only after February 4, 2018 – the day of the death of Kohar senior. While Bachitar’s father Naib Kohar unsuccessfully contested from the seat in 2018, the Akali Dal has now entrusted him with the job of contesting the seat in the 2022 polls. Starting off as the halka in-charge, Shahkot, and senior vice-president of the Youth Akali Dal in 2019, his political suitability will be tested for the first time in the elections.

Priorities: 1. Better medical infra

2. Sports grounds, parks, open gyms and better education

3. Ensuring better jobs and upgrade of sewa kendras

Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan

Party: AAP

Age: 64 years

Qualification: Class VII

Background: The Dubai-based businessman was AAP’s surprise pick for the 2018 Shahkot bypoll. The AAP was the first party, which he joined. Kakkar Kalan, who is also a former sarpanch of his Kakkar Kalan village in Lohian, has a lucrative construction business in Dubai. Before the 2018 bypolls, he didn’t has associations with any other party. Kakkar Kalan has lived in Dubai for 40 to 45 years and came back to India only a few years ago. In his absence, his son looks after his business in Dubai. In the Kakkar Kalan village, Rattan Singh owns 100 acres of farm land and an imposing residence. Having lost by a huge margin in the (he received 1,900 votes) in the 2018 Shahkot bypolls, he says has been attending to people’s demands from getting roof fixed to organising eye camps.

Priorities: 1. Provision of govt hospital at Shahkot

2. Opening of new schools

3. Bringing an end to red tapism