Problem of plenty for AAP in Patiala, BJP likely to field Preneet Kaur or daughter Jai Inder

Aman Sood

Patiala, March 7

Once considered to be Congress citadel, the political equations have changed in the royal bastion ever since Capt Amarinder Singh along with his family members and supporters shifted loyalty to the BJP. The Patiala Lok Sabha seat can be a litmus test for almost all political parties in the fray and will test the political clout of all candidates.

For the AAP, it is a problem of plenty with three prominent candidates vying for the seat, though the party high command has kept its cards close to its chest. UK-return Dalbir Singh Gill, who is a sports promoter and has been part of the AAP since 2012, is keen to contest, though he has been saying that ‘he will abide by the party’s decision’. Politically active in Patiala for the past over a year, the NRI has shifted base here to concentrate on politics as a career and enjoys support from almost all local MLAs in the district.

The party can spring a surprise with Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh, who is considered a strong candidate. Other candidates in the fray are PRTC chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana and Director (Media Relations) in the Chief Minister’s office Baltej Pannu.

The Congress will field a new face after their four-time MP from Patiala is likely to contest on the BJP ticket. In the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, the then AAP candidate, Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, upset the Congress applecart by defeating Preneet Kaur, who was then a three-time MP and was also the Union Minister of State for External Affairs. However in 2019, Preneet defeated Gandhi to wrest the seat again and become a four-time MP. Both later deserted their parties.

While the expected BJP and SAD coalition is still in a limbo, Preneet is the frontrunner to contest on the BJP ticket, the only exception could be in the case when the BJP decides to put an age bracket and consider her daughter Jai Inder Kaur, who is the BJP Punjab Mahila Morcha president and has been active in the district for the past few months.

If the Congress eyes the OBC vote bank, then former Rajpura MLA Hardyal Singh Kamboj seems to be the frontrunner while former minister Lal Singh was also a likely candidate. However, Kamboj has been active for the past few months and has been touring the district. The party could spring a surprise with former Cabinet minister Vijay Inder Singla or Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra, keeping in mind the Hindu vote bank.

SAD could field former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, who had lost the last elections to Preneet. Rakhra is considered close to the Badal family and shares a clean image.