Awla from Jalalabad?

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, September 22

In what is being considered as an Akali stronghold, the Congress is likely to field former Youth Congress chief Raminder Awla from the Jalalabad Assembly segment for the bypoll to this important seat which has been represented by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal since 2009.

The seat fell vacant after the election of Sukhbir as an MP. The Congress is sensing an opportunity to break into his bastion by fielding an fresh, energetic and non-controversial face.

Other than Awla, several others Congress leaders are also in the contention. They are Hans Raj Jossan, Anish Sidana and Jagdeep Kamboj. Even the name of former two-time MP and Rai Sikh leader Mohan Singh Phalianwala who had switched over to Congress ahead of Lok Sabha polls is also doing the rounds. 

PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar confirmed that Awla was indeed among the frontrunner for the seat besides others. “We are considering him for Lok Sabha elections also as he has been working for the party for long,” he said.

At the moment, the main probables for SAD include Puran Singh Mujaidiya, Prem Valecha, Ashok Aneja and Sukhbir’s OSD Satinder Jeet Singh Manta besides others. Of these, Puran Singh belongs to the Rai Sikh community which has a good number of voters in the segment. Even the AAP leadership is toying with the idea of nominating a Rai Sikh from the seat.

Former Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar, who switched from the Congress to TMC, and finally joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has said he was not inclined to contest.

Sukhbir's bastion 

The seat fell vacant after the election of Sukhbir as an MP from this parliamentary segment. The Congress is sensing an opportunity to break into his bastion by fielding a fresh, energetic and non-controversial face. Other than Awla, others, including Hans Raj Jossan, Anish Sidana and Jagdeep Kamboj, are also in the contention. Former two-time MP and Mohan Singh Phalianwala's name is also doing the rounds.