Faridkot to witness battle among 'outsiders'

Voters of Faridkot may have to elect an "outsider" as most political parties have fielded candidates from outside this Lok Sabha constituency, though nobody is expected to get a cakewalk out here. 

While the SAD has fielded sitting MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, the Congress is represented by Sukwinder Singh Danny, son of former excise and taxation minister of the state Sardool Singh, for the polls on May 13.   

Kushal Bhaura, wife of late MP Bhan Singh Bhaura (Bhatinda), is fighting on a CPI ticket while BSP has fielded Resham Singh, the only local candidate among major parties. 

While the Congress nominee is from Tarn Taran district, candidates of the SAD and the CPI are from Bathinda. Ever since this constituency was created in 1977, it witnessed 11 general, midterm and by-elections. 

The SAD has led the pack by winning the seat for seven times, while the Congress three times and the Akali Dal led by Simranjit Singh Maan once. 

The constituency with as many as 12.82 lakh electorates comprises nine assembly segments. During the last Assembly polls, the Congress won six seats — Faridkot, Kotkapura, Jaito, Moga, Baghapurana and Rampura Phul while Gidderbaha and Dharamkot Assembly seats were grabbed by the SAD. The Nihal Singh wala constituency went to an independent MLA. 

Though the SAD is highlighting development schemes launched by the party in the recent past, it is also striving to cash in on emotive issues of 1984 anti-Sikh riots after the assassination of Congress leader and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, its alliance partner BJP remains a mute spectator on both the issues.    

On its part, the Congress is banking on former chief minister Amarinder Singh, who had played a significant role in the victory of the party in this Malwa region during the last assembly polls.