Sukhbir Badal to contest from Ferozepur, Harsimrat Kaur renominated from Bathinda

The Shiromani Akali Dal Tuesday fielded Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat while his wife and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal was renominated from Bathinda.

The announcement was made by SAD patron and five-time former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in Muktsar.

"It has been decided that SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal will fight from Ferozepur and Harsimrat will contest from Bathinda," he said.

Party spokesperson and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema said the decision to field Sukhbir, who is the SAD president and a legislator from the Jalalabad assembly seat (part of Ferozepur constituency), was taken following a strong demand from party leaders and workers of the Lok Sabha seat.

"Besides respecting the sentiments of party leaders and workers, Parkash Singh Badal also took opinion of the senior leadership and core committee members," said Cheema.

After taking a final opinion of leaders and workers of both the alliance partners -- BJP and SAD -- of the Ferozepur constituency Monday night, the Akali stalwart announced Sukhbir as the party candidate from Ferozepur, he said.

According to the core committee of the SAD, fielding Sukhbir from Ferozepur will not only send a positive message to the rank and file but also improve prospects of the party in the parliamentary election.

Sukhbir had contested the Lok Sabha polls from the Faridkot seat thrice -- 1998, 1999 and 2004. He had won in 1998 and 2004.

Two-time MP and Union minister Harsimrat was renominated as the party candidate from Bathinda after considering her "incredible performance as a cabinet minister who ushered her constituency into a fast growing region by bringing major central projects, including the prestigious AIIMS project".

Sukhbir and Harsimrat have been holding public and workers' meetings in Ferozepur and Bathinda constituencies for the past several days.

The couple thanked the party for reposing faith in them.

Both will file their nomination papers on April 26 after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, as per the party statement.

The SAD has already announced its candidates from other eight seats out of the total 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

As per an arrangement with its ally the BJP,the SAD will contest on 10 seats while the saffron party will fields candidates from three seats.

Sukhbir will face Akali rebel and Congress nominee Sher Singh Ghubaya from the Ferozepur seat.

Harsimrat will face Congress nominee and MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring from Bathinda.

AAP candidate Baljinder Kaur and Punjabi Ekta Party candidate and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira are also contesting from the Bathinda parliamentary constituency.

Political secretary to Sukhbir, Charanjit Singh Brar said party candidates Bibi Jagir Kaur from Khadoor Sahib, Maheshinder Singh Grewal from Ludhiana, Gulzar Singh Ranike from Faridkot, Surjit Singh Rakhra from Patiala and Charanjit Singh Atwal from Jalandhar will file nominations on April 26.

He said the party would start its nomination filing process on April 25, with the filing of nominations by Darbara Singh Guru from Fatehgarh Sahib seat.

He said the remaining two SAD candidates, Prem Singh Chandumajra and former Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, would file their nominations for Anandpur Sahib and Sangrur, respectively, on April 29.