Sikander Singh Maluka placated, to fight from Rampura Phul seat

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 4

Former minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) kisan wing leader Sikander Singh Maluka, who had been sulking over seat allocation, has agreed to contest from Rampura Phul seat after party president Sukhbir Singh Badal met him today.

Further, the SAD chief announced Maluka’s son Gurpreet Singh as the general secretary of the party. Maluka had stayed away from party programmes and even skipped two core committee meetings after Sukhbir announced him as the party candidate from Rampura Phul.

Maluka wanted to contest from the Maur constituency, saying he was working in the area at the insistence of the party leadership. He wanted Rampura Phul seat for his son. However, Sukhbir gave Maluka the ticket from Rampura Phul and later announced former Congress leader Jagmeet Brar as the party candidate from Maur.

Miffed, Maluka had asked the party to adopt “one family, one ticket” resolution, with exception to the Badals, if his son was not given the ticket.

Earlier, senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia had held a meeting with Maluka. Brar had also called on Maluka seeking his support.

Maluka is the head of the kisan wing of the party. He was the first to speak against the farm laws when the SAD leadership was supporting the laws.