Double blow for Akali Dal candidate

It was a double blow for Shiromani Akali Dal's Patiala assembly by-poll candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja when his eldest son died Sunday and he lost the election Monday.

His son Gurpal Juneja, 43, died of a severe cardiac arrest late Sunday night.

He was cremated here Monday in the presence of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, ministers Bikram Majithia and Daljeet Singh Cheema along with hundreds of other mourners.

Former union minister Preneet Kaur defeated Bhagwan Dass, a social worker, in the by-election by over 23,200 votes.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief over Gurpal's demise.