Setback for Sikander Singh Maluka, SAD fields Jagmeet Singh Brar from Maur seat

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 1

Cold-shouldering the sulking senior leader Sikander Singh Maluka, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today announced Jagmeet Brar as the party’s candidate from Maur segment and named candidates on five other seats. The party has announced 22 candidates to date.

Maluka, who is also the party’s kisan wing head, had demanded the Maur seat for himself, even though his candidature was announced for the Rampura Phul seat. Maluka wanted his son Gurpreet Singh to be fielded from there.

SAD general secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema released the names on social media. He said SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has finalised the names. Maluka had skipped the core committee meeting of the party held here last evening.

Brar, a Congress former leader, was once known as ‘Awaz-e-Punjab’ owing to his oratory skills and firm stand on vital issues. He defeated Sukhbir Badal in 1999 Lok Sabha elections. He remained in jail for seven months for participating in a movement against the Akali government in 1979.

In 2015, he left the Congress over differences with the central leadership. He joined the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress but later fell out with her. He formed an alliance with AAP in 2017 Assembly polls, but none of his candidates could win. In April 2019, he joined the SAD.

Among other candidates announced today, party’s youth wing chief Parambans Singh Romana has been fielded from Faridkot, Suba Singh from Jaitu, Mantar Singh Brar from Kotkapura, Kanwarjit Singh Rosy Barkandi from Muktsar and Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from Talwandi Sabo.

Cold-shouldered

SAD farmer wing head and former minister Sikander Singh Maluka had demanded the Maur seat for himself and the Rampura Phul seat, from where his candidature was announced by the party, for his son Gurpreet Singh.

Joined party in 2019

In 2015, Jagmeet Singh Brar left the Congress over differences with the party’s central leadership. He joined the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC but later fell out with her. He formed an alliance with AAP in 2017 Assembly polls. In April 2019, he joined the SAD.