Punjab bypolls: Cong announces all 4 candidates, SAD names Dakha nominee

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 23

The Congress on Monday announced candidates for bye-elections in four assembly seats in Punjab, with former state youth Congress chief Raminder Awla to contest from Jalalabad, the constituency represented by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Sukhbir Badal was elected to Lok Sabha, leading to vacancy.

As per a party release, Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal will be the candidate from Phagwara (SC), Indu Bala from Mukerian and Sandeep Singh Sandhu will contest from Dakha.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has announced Manpreet Singh Ayali as SAD-BJP candidate from Dakha assembly constituency for the byelection.

Phagwara seat fell vacant after its representative BJP’s Som Parkash was elected to the Lok Sabha recently. Supreme Court lawyer and former AAP leader HS Phoolka gave up his Dakha seat in January this year. Mukerian fell vacant last month after Congress MLA Rajnish Kumar Babbi’s demise.

SAD candidate Ayali was elected from Dakha seat in 2012 but he lost to Phoolka in 2017. 

The voting will take place on October 21 and the counting will be held on October 24.