Had it not been for Laddi, Chaudhary would have lost

Deepkamal Kaur & Avneet Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May 23

If any Jalandhar MLA would be again feeling assertive about his position in Jalandhar post-the Lok Sabha poll results today, it certainly would be Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia from Shahkot.

A perusal of the result sheets clearly indicated that had it not been for him, winner Chaudhary Santokh Singh would have lost his elections this time. The margin of Chaudhary is more or less the same that has come from the Shahkot seat – both standing close to 19,400 votes (see box). For the same reason, all Congress leaders showered praises on Laddi with many saying that he is the real MP today.

Amid AAP wave former SAD minister Ajit Singh Kohar won in the 2017 Assembly poll. Laddi Sherowalia had lost to Kohar by 4,905 votes. Kohar passed away and bypolls were held in May 2018. Former MP Rana Gurjit’s protégé, Laddi came victorious by 38,801 votes despite an illegal mining case registered against him during the elections. The case stands cancelled now.

Today, as almost all Congress MLAs, including Bawa Henry, who had a margin of 32,291 in 2017 skid from their positions. He could not provide any big lead as was being expected and Chaudhary suffered a jolt trailing behind SAD candidate by a margin of 6,218 votes from his constituency.

Call it some impact of Modi wave in the city in another urban constituency, Jalandhar Central MLA Rajinder Beri too came as a disappointment for Chaudhary. The Congress trailed here with 5,342 votes. The urban constituencies – Pargat Singh’s Jalandhar Cantt and Sushil Rinku’s Jalandhar West — were of little help only. Since Rinku was a contender for the post of the MP, all eyes were on results from his Assembly seat, where from the Congress had an edge of 1,489 votes only.

Congress leader Jagbir Brar, who had come third in the 2017 elections, improved his tally coming to 42,389 seats from 35,633 seats then but still the Congress lagged behind at 2,638 votes.

If it was Laddi who helped Chaudhary win, the blame from SAD side can also come on Pawan Tinu, SAD Adampur legislator from whose constituency SAD candidate Charanjit Atwal trailed with a margin of whopping and unexpected 9,376 votes. Congress’ MS Kaypee had contested from this seat in 2017 and lost to Tinu. Kaypee was a competitor of Chaudhary for this seat and showed his annoyance for two weeks.

Chaudhary holds roadshow, thank voters

The subdued atmosphere prevailing in the house of Congress Candidate Santokh Chaudhary turned into happiness, after his son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary who was present at the counting centre around 2:15 pm gave him the good news of wining the elections against SAD candidate Charanjit Atwal by over 19,400 votes.

The moment results were clear, party workers in large numbers gathered outside the counting centre and were seen distributing sweets, shouting slogans “Santokh Chaudary Zindabaad” and dancing to the beats of ‘specially designed’ election songs for Chaudhary and on dhol beats.

Chaudhary after collecting his winning certificate from the Deputy Commissioner took out a huge roadshow from the counting centre on the Kapurthala road to the Football chowk till his residence accompanied by over 25 cars, motorcycles, LED vans swamped with people all around, holding flags of the Congress and his posters.

He was greeted by his wife with sweets and garlands in hands at his doorstep, while his son Vikramjit Chaudhary welcomed him by touching his feet and giving him a hug. Hundreds of supporters of the winning candidate were present at his residence who sang ‘boliya’ and did ‘gidha’ to celebrate his victory.

Congress leader exchanged pleasantaries with people and also thanked voters for their support.

Youth Congress leaders missing

Though, local MLAs Sushil Rinku, Ranjinder Beri and Mayor Jagdish Raja and Congress leader Kaku Ahluwalia were present in the road show, no Youth Congress leaders were seen celebrating Chaudhary’s victory.

SAD- BJP-leaders celebrate Modi’s win

Former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia and former MLA KD Bhandari, along with other BJP leaders and scores of supporters, celebrated Narendra Modi’s win by taking out a roadshow.

Chanting slogans such as ‘ek bar phir se Modi sarkar’ and holding posters and flags of the BJP, the leaders as well supporters of the party danced on the beats of dhol and congratulated each other. Sweets were also distributed among people over the tremendous victory of the party in several states.