PUNJAB

Congress, AAP to give BJP a tough fight in Gurdaspur

1mcd BJP has fielded Swaran Singh Salaria, a Mumbai businessman, from the seat

Actor Vinod Khanna has won Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab four times for the BJP. This border district was a Congress stronghold till Khanna, with his Bollywood appeal, snatched it for the saffron party in 1998. Now, after his death, the constituency is going to a bye-poll, but it will not be an easy run for the party.

As in the recent Punjab assembly elections, the contest in this prestigious seat would be triangular, among the BJP, the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party. BJP has fielded Swaran Singh Salaria from the seat. This Mumbai businessman, originally hails from the area, has been nurturing the constituency for long. He is the owner of TRIG security agency and is into aviation and construction business. Interestingly, he had the support of yoga guru Baba Ramdev.

Khanna's wife Kavita Khanna, who is an Art of Living follower, was also a front-runner for the BJP candidature. But what tipped the balance in favour of Salaria was that he had roots in Pathankot, which is part of the constituency, and has been active for over a decade. While Kavita is an outsider.

With deep pockets, and assiduously nurturing the constituency for long, Salaria, may begin his campaign with fanfare, but he will be challenged by Congress candidate, Sunil Jhakhar, the current state president of the party. Sunil Jhakhar is the son of Balram Jhakhar, former governor and senior Congress politician. 

Interestingly, even the AAP has fielded a non-Sikh candidate from the seat. It picked up Maj. Gen. Suresh Khajuria (retired). The party presented his candidature as the local leader who not only belongs to the district but is also based here, unlike Sunil Jhakhar who belongs to Fazilka district of Punjab, or Salaria who had made Mumbai his home.

Khajuria belongs to a village in Pathankot and has served two tenures as Brigade and Division Commander in Punjab.

For the BJP, it will be a prestige battle to retain the seat. The nationalist sentiment is likely to be played up during the contest as the area not only shares border with Pakistan, but also witnessed a major terrorist attack at Pathankot Air Force station in January 2016. Salaria is also a former army captain.

The Congress will be putting its might in the election to win the seat. It is also a prestige battle for Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, as his trusted lieutenant is contesting from here. The victory at this seat is likely to boost the morale of the party at the national level.

The AAP candidate is a political greenhorn, though he comes with an impressive army credentials. The Pathankot region sends a large number of its youth to the army. So, Khajuria is expected to woo them.

Vinod Khanna had been an MP here between 1998-2009 and 2014-2017. He passed away on April 27 this year. The seat was held by Pratap Singh Bajwa in 2009 who is now a Rajya Sabha MP.

The last date of filing of nomination is September 22 and the polling will take place on October 11.

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