Farmers Movement Archive

‘Akalis eyeing Pathankot seat, may exchange with BSP’

Amritsar: With Shiromani Akali Dal (B) announcing names of 11 candidates from the Majha region of Punjab, rumours are abound that the party could exchange Pathankot assembly seat with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), as it did earlier in the case of Amritsar (north) constituency, creating further acrimony with its new alliance partner. BSP state president Jasbir Singh Garhi said according to seat-sharing arrangement with Akalis, BSP had got five seats from Majha — Amritsar (north), Amritsar (central), Pathankot, Bhoa and Sujanpur. Amritsar (north) was given to BJP’s expelled leader Anil Joshi after he joined the Akali party while the SAD(B) announced Raj Kumar Gupta from Sujanpur seat. “In exchange of Amritsar (north) and Sujanpur seats we got Sham Chaurasi and Kapurthala seats respectively,” said the BSP state president . However, he denied having any knowledge ongoing hearsay about Akalis eyeing the Pathankot seat too. “No, there is nothing like that, I have not heard of such rumours even,” he said. On September 13, SAD(B) president Sukhbir Singh Badal had announced the names of 64 candidates, including 11 from Majha. Names of six and three candidates were announced from Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts while one candidate each was announced from Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. However, highly placed sources in BSP said in one of the recently held meetings, Akalis had given indication of wanting a Pathankot seat. “One of the senior BJP leaders from the region, who had also expressed his resentment against farm laws, could join SAD(B) like Anil Joshi and in that case Akalis want to keep the Pathankot seat reserved for him,” said sources, adding that party (BSP) leadership was ‘concerned’ with Akalis choosing seats for their own convenience ignoring BSP’s interests. SAD (B) leader from Gurdaspur Gurbachan Singh Babehali said, “Such issues will be discussed between BSP and SAD (B) state presidents and whatever will be the outcome will be revealed to media.” Babehali is SAD(B) candidate from Gurdaspur assembly constituency. BSP state general secretary Gurbax Singh Shergill said meetings were being held to finalise the names of party candidates from Amritsar (central), Bhoa and Pathankot assembly constituencies. Shergill himself was a BSP candidate from Amritsar (north), which was later given to Anil Joshi and Shergill was adjusted in the state body of BSP. Despite repeated attempts SAD (B) spokespersons Daljit Singh Cheema did not answer his calls.

The Times of India

2021-09-18

Amritsar