Chandigarh, May 2, 2024 : In a surprising turn of events, Amritpal Singh, the leader of “Waris Punjab” Jathebandi, has announced his candidacy as an independent candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from the Khadoor Sahib constituency, leaving the Shiromani Akali Dal entangled in the web of religious politics. The situation has become precarious for the Akali Dal, as it finds itself caught between supporting Amritpal Singh, who carries the legacy of Sikh domination, and having to campaign against him.
Amritpal Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Shiromani Akali Dal’s decision to field their own candidate from the Khadoor Sahib constituency. His statement came shortly after a meeting with the wife of Virsa Singh Valtoha, the Shiromani Akali Dal’s candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, who sought support for her husband’s candidacy.
Tarsem Singh criticized Virsa Singh’s decision to stand as a candidate, labeling it a historical mistake. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), led by Simranjit Singh Mann, has thrown its support behind Amritpal Singh, causing discomfort for the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).
Simranjit Mann stated that after Amritpal Singh filed his nomination papers for the elections, their party would withdraw its candidate from the Khadoor Sahib constituency. Khadoor Sahib is often referred to as a “panthic” seat, having come into existence in 2008, encompassing nine assembly segments – Jandiala, Tarn Taran, Khem Karan, Patti, Khadoor Sahib, Baba Bakala, Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Jheera.
Simranjit Singh Mann, known for his staunch panthic stance, also secured victory in the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election from Malwa, another stronghold of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Shiromani Akali Dal has traditionally relied on panthic votes, while the BJP has garnered support from urban voters, leading to the coalition forming the government three times.
However, during Shiromani Akali Dal’s tenure, incidents of sacrilege, apologies to Gurmeet Ram Rahim by the Akal Takht, and shootings on Sikh congregations in Bargari deeply angered panthic voters, causing a significant shift away from the Akali Dal. In 2019, the Akali Dal faced setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, winning only two seats. The Congress secured eight out of thirteen seats, the Akali-BJP alliance four, and AAP managed to win only one seat.
The declaration of Amritpal Singh’s candidacy against the Akali Dal marks a critical juncture in Panthic and Punjab’s political landscape, further intensifying the competition in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
