B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Big blow to Akali Dal in Faridkot, senior party leader loses sarpanch poll in his native village 
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, July 3
In a big blow to the SAD (B) in panchayat elections in Faridkot, one of its senior party leaders who was a former chairman of the District Planning Board, today lost the election for sarpanch to a new face in his own village. Lakhbir Singh, the senior Akali leader, lost the election to Harcharan Singh Sandhu by 58 votes in Arianwala village. The panchayat elections in Arianwala was the centre of attraction in Faridkot due to the presence of Lakhbir Singh, a senior Akali leader who was facing a tough contest in his own village from an outsider. Harcharan Singh Sandhu belongs to Faridkot town. The result of Arianwala seat was declared at around 9.30 pm today. Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said the results were declared late due to late start of counting. Before Lakhbir Singh jumped into panchayat election contest, he was the district president of the Faridkot SAD (B) unit. He was the one of strong claimants for the party ticket in the last assembly elections from Faridkot. After he was denied the ticket in the assembly elections, to placate him, the SAD (B) appointed him the chairman of District Planning Board. But now as Lakhbir Singh has lost the election in his own village, it may to queer the pitch for him in the district. 

It was not only Lakhbir Singh who lost the election in Arianwala village. All the five candidates supported by him also lost the election. Lakhbir Singh had earlier lodged a complaint against Harcharan Singh, demanding the for registration of a criminal case against Sandhu for getting voter identity cards made at two places — in Faridkot town and Arianwala. He demanded the cancellation of Harcharan's nomination papers for his name in the voter's list at two different places. Sources said to build pressure on the district authorities and the police for cancellation of Harcharan Sandhu's nomination papers and registration of a case against him, the Akali leaders even approached the CM's office. But as a BJP cabinet minister of Majha area is also facing the allegations of dual voter ID — in Amritsar and Tarantarn — the CM's office was reportedly mild in making its recommendation against the Congress leader.