The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is set to contest the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab under its party symbol, ‘takdi’ or scales, for the first time since 1996. This move marks a significant departure from the SAD’s previous alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has traditionally contested the Gurdaspur seat. The SAD’s decision follows its withdrawal from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws. The party has placed its bet on senior vice president Daljit Singh Cheema as its candidate for Gurdaspur. Cheema has dismissed the BJP’s claims that he is an ‘outsider,’ stating that he has strong ties to the constituency and has previously contested elections there. The BJP, on the other hand, has named local leader Dinesh Singh Babbu as its candidate, a move that Cheema attributes to the ‘negativity’ surrounding the BJP. The Gurdaspur seat has been a stronghold of the BJP, which has fielded Bollywood stars Vinod Khanna and Sunny Deol in the past. However, this time, the party has opted for a local candidate, which Cheema believes is an indication of the BJP’s declining popularity.
The SAD’s decision to contest Gurdaspur under its own symbol is seen as a significant challenge to the BJP, which has held the seat since 1998. The BJP has traditionally relied on fielding Bollywood stars to win the Gurdaspur seat, but this time, it has opted for a local candidate, Dinesh Singh Babbu. Cheema, the SAD’s candidate, is a veteran leader and former minister who has a strong base in Gurdaspur. He is confident that the SAD can win the seat and give a strong fight to the BJP.
The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat is one of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will take place on June 1.
