Satwant Singh, the son of convicted Indira Gandhi assassin Kehar Singh, has been selected as the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De's (ADWPD) first candidate for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The announcement of Satwant contesting from the Bassi Pathana constituency has turned heads, not only because of the fact that his father was executed for his role in the assassination, but also because of the competition he will be facing.
The announcement was made by Tarsem Singh, the father of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, who was jailed back in 2023 for supporting the Khalistan movement.
"Respect for the families of 'martyrs' cannot be limited to statements only. They should also be given due place in the party's organisational responsibilities," said Tarsem Singh about the move.
He also added that the move was in line with Panthic principles, the rights of Punjab, and the need to ensure due respect and representation to the families of those who made sacrifices.
At the moment, it is also known that Satwant will face competition from the independent candidate Amrit Kaur Maloya for the Bassi Pathan seat.
Maloya is the daughter of Beant Singh—another of Indira Gandhi's assassins, and the sister of prominent Waris Punjab De MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa.
She had earlier contested in the Tarn Taran bypoll back in 2025, which she lost to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu, with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) coming in second.
At the ADWPD press conference, Tarsem Singh also noted that the party had appointed Sukhwinder Singh Agwan, nephew of Satwant Singh—a bodyguard accused in the Indira Gandhi assassination plot—as a member of its parliamentary board.
Several members of Kehar Singh family were also present at the conference, including his elder son Rajinder Singh and grandson Puru Raj Singh, Sukhwinder Singh Agwan, P. Singh, and Amarjit Singh Vanchhari.
It is now yet to be seen how the move affects emerging Panthic equations in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections in the state.
