AAP’s Gurinder Pal Singh Shergill makes history as youngest Sarpanch in Jamsher Khas

Gurinder Pal Singh Shergill, a 37-year-old district general secretary of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Jalandhar, has made history by becoming the youngest Sarpanch of Jamsher Khas village, breaking a 40-year Congress stronghold.

Shergill’s remarkable win in the Panchayat election was marked by a thrilling margin of 274 votes, securing 1,139 votes against his nearest rival, Mandeep Singh Manna, who garnered 864 votes. As the only active AAP office bearer to contest the election in Jalandhar, Shergill’s victory is especially significant.

A popular youth worker, Shergill’s yellow and blue manifesto emphasised empowering the youth, with the slogan “Naujwani Nu Mauka Deo ji” (give a chance to the youth).

Jamsher Khas, with approximately 6,400 votes and 11 panches, witnessed a highly contested election with five candidates vying for the Sarpanch position. The polling night was marked by heated skirmishes.

Shergill, a dedicated AAP member since November 2012, has actively participated in various elections and bypolls in the district. He worked tirelessly for AAP during the Haryana election.

He shared his vision with The Tribune, saying, “I wanted to work for the people and wanted the youth’s voice to echo in the Panchayat Election. My top priorities will be working on health, sanitation, environment, and the overall progress of the village.”

The key manifesto promises include a health centre, community hall and village park, new playground, tiled roads, welcome gates, lights, tree plantation, solving garbage and sanitation woes, new village ‘phirni’ road, rewards from Panchayat to child achievers and annual sports tourney.

The election contest in Jamsher Khas village was incredibly intense. A 60-member police team had to be deployed to the village on election night after skirmishes broke out. The trouble started when a polythene packet allegedly appeared at the counting centre at Government Primary School around 10 pm, sparking claims that it contained chits meant to manipulate the count in favour of one group.

Shergill said, “After decades, the village’s dynamics were changing, so people were getting worked up. A panch had ordered sandwiches, which the opposite party created an unnecessary hullaballoo over.”

AAP's Gurinder Pal Singh Shergill Makes History as Youngest Sarpanch in Jamsher Khas"