M A I N   N E W S

SAD’s third list triggers more infighting
Naveen S Garewal/TNS

Chandigarh, January 1
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has announced the third list of its candidates with 10 names. The Ludhiana South seat has now been allotted to Mayor Hakim Singh Giaspura. The seat was earlier allotted to Balwinder Singh Bains who was expelled from the party along with his brother for anti-party activities.

Party spokesperson and SAD general secretary Dr Daljit Singh Cheema has been allotted the Ropar seat. Sitting MLA Sant Ajit Singh, who has quit the party on being denied the ticket, has already announced the name of his aide for the seat. Sant Ajit Singh had joined Manpreet Badal last year, but was persuaded back into the party fold.

SAD president Sukhbir Badal’s loyalist Prem Singh Chandumajra has been fielded from Fatehgarh Sahib. He replaces sitting MLA Didar Singh Bhatti and is likely to face a contest from him. Bhatti had openly revolted against the party at Jor Mela in the presence of SAD president Sukhbir Badal and the CM. He has joined the PPP and will contest against Chandumajra.

The SAD has decided to field Sarwan Singh Phillaur from Kartarpur, despite the fact that he has won from Phillaur several times.

He is likely to face Chaudhary Jagjit Singh of the Congress, a heavyweight. The Phillaur seat has been given to Avinash Chander, while SAD MLA from Garhdiwala Des Raj Dhuga has been shifted to Sri Hargobindpur Sahib.

The Nawanshahr seat has been retained by the Kariha family.

The party has allotted the ticket to Satinder Kaur, wife of Jatinder Singh Kariha, sitting SAD MLA, who died recently. The Baghapurana seat has been allotted to Mahesh Inder Singh Nihalsinghwala.

Amloh has been given to Jagdeep Singh Cheema and the Bassi Pathana seat to Nirmal Singh, husband of Faridkot MP Gulshan Kaur.

Despite taking a lead in announcing names for 73 of the 94 seats that the SAD will contest, the party appears to have gained little as it has failed to check dissidence on various seats.

Though the SAD’s archrival Congress is struggling to select its candidates and is unlikely to release the list before Tuesday, Capt Amarinder Singh appears to have luck on his side.

In the 2002 elections, the Congress had gained from the feud between the Tohra and Badal factions.

This time, SAD infighting may prove a boon for the Congress with reports suggesting a close fight.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Harmandar Sahib on New Year could go a long way in assuaging the hurt Sikh sentiments and help the Congress.

The showing of black flags to the Prime Minister could become a poll issue.