Gurdaspur seat may go to Khanna kin : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

LOK SABHA ELECTION 2019

Gurdaspur seat may go to Khanna kin

GURDASPUR: The BJP central leadership is of the view that only a family member of Vinod Khanna can give a befitting fight to the Congress candidate from Gurdaspur.

Gurdaspur seat may go to Khanna kin

Indications from Delhi are that the names of actor Akshaye Khanna and Kavita Khanna, the son and wife of the late MP, have been shortlisted.



Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, March 14

The BJP central leadership is of the view that only a family member of Vinod Khanna can give a befitting fight to the Congress candidate from Gurdaspur. Indications from party leaders in Delhi are that the names of the late four-time MP’s son, actor Akshaye Khanna, and wife Kavita Khanna are being discussed.

“We not only want to keep alive the legacy of Vinod Khanna, whose work in the constituency from 1998 till 2017 (barring 2009-2014) was highlighted by PM Narendra Modi in his speech in Gurdaspur on January 3, but also want to jolt the Congress candidate by bringing in an actor as popular as Akshaye,” said a top functionary. Insiders say with Akshaye not too enthusiastic about the offer, the party leadership approached  Kavita, who arrived in Pathankot today. 

Speaking to The Tribune, she said she would be happy if the ticket remained with the family. “Whether it is me or Akshaye, it doesn’t matter. Unfinished projects started by my husband will be completed only if somebody from the family is handed over the baton.” 

Kavita has the advantage of having spiritual master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on her side, who wields much influence on national politics. He is one of the three mediators named by the Supreme Court to solve the Ayodhya  issue.

During the 2017 byelection, Kavita was in the reckoning for the party ticket. But a last-minute nudge by yoga guru Swami Ramdev in favour of Mumbai businessman Swaran Salaria dashed her hopes. Kavita has been active in the constituency ever since Salaria lost the bypoll by a massive margin of 1.93 lakh votes. 

Salaria has been in touch with the electorate too. Having financed the PM’s Gurdaspur rally, he could be expecting the party ticket for the Lok Sabha elections.

Top News

High alert across Uttar Pradesh after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death

High alert across Uttar Pradesh after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death

Umar Ansari alleged that his father was subjected to slow po...

Mukhtar Ansari was subjected to slow poisoning in jail: Son

Mukhtar Ansari was subjected to slow poisoning in jail: Son

Ansari's post-mortem to be conducted in UP by panel of five ...

Enforcement Directorate wants AAP's Lok Sabha poll strategy details from Arvind Kejriwal's phone: Atishi

Enforcement Directorate wants AAP's Lok Sabha poll strategy details from Arvind Kejriwal's phone: Atishi

Says actually it is the BJP and not the ED that wants to kno...

PM Modi in conversation with Bill Gates, says India has democratised technology, aims to end digital divide

PM Modi, in conversation with Bill Gates, says India has democratised technology, aims to end digital divide

Says tech can play big role in agriculture, education, healt...


Cities

View All