Among the candidates, Sathi's father Sathi Roop Lai had

represented the constituency two times. Vijay was first elected to the Assembly from Baghapurana in 1992 by defeating heavy weight Congress leader Gurcharan Singh Nihalsingh Wala. After the delimitation exercise, about two dozen villages of Baghapurana were attached to Moga Assembly constituency, which might work in Sathi's favour, pundits said. Sanjha Morcha's Dhaliwal might pose stiff competition for Congress and Akali Dal. In the last assembly elections, he polled about 10,000 votes and this time the Left parties are helping him due to which he can garner more votes. The opposition parties are raising issues against SAD candidate Jain, who has cases registered for alleged evasion of stamp duty and under the Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act. Backward classes, which form 35 per cent of the voters, can also prove to be the deciding factor. The bye-election is poised for an interesting political battle as the Congress will try to retain the seat while the SAD will try to wrest it to improve its tally in the Legislative Assembly to 59 to gain a simple majority in the 117 member house.