BJP to field Salariya from Vinod Khanna's Gurdaspur seat

The BJP today announced that businessman Swarn Singh Salariya will be its candidate for the by-poll to the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat that fell vacant following actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna's demise.
Polling for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab will take place on October 11. The seat fell vacant after Khanna, a four-time BJP MP, passed away in April this year.
Salaria's name was decided by the party's central election committee, according to an official statement.
After deliberating over the candidate's name for many days, the party chose Salariya over Kavita Khanna, the wife of the late movie actor, according to party sources.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already named Major General (Retd) Suresh Khajuria as its candidate while the Congress yesterday announced that its state president Sunil Jakhar would contest the by-poll.
"Swarn Singh Salariya will be the BJP candidate for the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency bypoll," said Punjab BJP secretary Vineet Joshi.

Salaria has business interests in hospitality, aviation and other sectors, Joshi said.
Salariya is a native of the Chauhana village in Gurdaspur. He was an aspirant for the same seat in 2014 elections but the party opted for Khanna, who had represented the constituency earlier as well.
Salaria hails from the Rajput community which has substantial presence in the constituency.

Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has been a stronghold of the BJP. Salaria will be in a direct fight with Jakhar.
Meanwhile, the party also announced K Janachandran Master as its candidate for the Vengara legislative assembly in Kerala.