SAD may go it alone for LS Ludhiana seat

Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, March 1

The Ludhiana parliamentary seat has mainly been dominated by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress in the past. The seat was grabbed by SAD bigwigs, including Buta Singh, Kapoor Singh ICS, Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Mewa Singh Gill, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Amrik Singh Aliwal. But after delimitation in which areas such as Koomkalan, Payal and Raikot were not included, the party (SAD) seems to have lost its grip on the seat (as it was a rural belt). Certain areas of the district, including Sahnewal, Samrala, Raikot, Payal and Khanna are now in Fatehgarh Sahib, and the SAD is yet to get a good grip.

One thing is clear, that the party is not planning to have an alliance with the BJP this time. As seasoned SAD leader and former minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal said, “Never in the history of India has it happened when an SGPC president did not get any reply from the Prime Minister or the Home Minister. The SGPC president sought an appointment from them to hold talks on Bandi Sikhs and other issues but his letter was not even acknowledged. The committee found the behaviour of the Central government highly arrogant. There is a difference of opinion on many vital issues between the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal and the latter is likely to contest on its own.”

Speculations are rife that Vipan Sood Kaka may be a good option for the party this time but those in close circles of Kaka inform that it would have been better if the party had the support of BJP. The other options for the Shiromani Akali Dal can be Sharanjit Singh Dhillon or Ranjit Singh Dhillon.

One of the leaders of SAD who did not wish to be quoted said that the people of Punjab want to have a representative of a regional party. “There may be some differences but the masses still want a regional party for safeguarding the interests of Punjab. The Hindus agree that SAD has done several development works and Punjab grew under its leadership. At the same time, Hindus feel that it would be better if the BJP joins hands with SAD,” said the leader.

As of now, the party has not announced any candidate but regular feedback is taken and options are being weighed for the revival of the party to win the Ludhiana parliamentary segment.