Bhatti shifted from Balluana to Bathinda

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, August 29

Announcing the first list of candidates for the Vidhan Sabha election, the SAD to shifted former MLA from Parkash Singh Bhatti to the Bathinda rural constituency. Observers said this might have been done to clear the path of another ex-MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana to contest from Balluana.

Bhatti was elected on a Congress ticket in 2002 from Balluana, a reserved constituency. In 2017, he joined the SAD and contested the election from Balluana, but lost to Congress candidate Nathu Ram by 15,449 votes.

Ghuriana, who won Vidhan Sabha elections as SAD candidate in 1997, 2007 and 2012, had reportedly opposed Bhatti’s candidature in 2017.

Regarding Abohar seat, after SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal paid obeisance for the first time to Arut Ji Maharaj, the founder of the Arora community on May 30, there was a buzz that the party could field an Arora candidate from here. Even the name of Panjab University ex-senator Rajinder Deepa was floated for the seat.

However, things changed when former Congress MLAs Hans Raj Josan and Dr Mohinder Rinwa joined the SAD and were given important positions in the party. Now, Rinwa has launched a mass contact campaign in Abohar.

SAD supporters, considered close to Deepa, came out with a joint statement on Sunday evening, seeking ticket for an Arora candidate from the seat.