Satinder Bains/Punjab News Express
CHANDIGARH: The Congress party in Punjab seems to have committed a historic blunder by not contesting the Khadoor Sahib by-election. The SAD had a cakewalk victory in the by-election where there was no competitor. Both Congress and AAP stayed away from election. AAP had also not contested earlier three by-elections of Patiala, Talwandi Sabo and Dhuri. All these seats were vacated by Congress party and it lost all except
Patiala.
The ruling SAD has got an opportunity to showcase its victory to project development as an agenda for 2017 assembly elections. PPCC President Captain Amarinder Singh had announced not to contest the Khadoor Sahib poll at the eleventh hour when party candidates were ready to file nomination papers. Knowingly or incidently the Congress party has helped the SAD to regain some of its lost glory after the incidents of sacrilege of
Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab. The might not win the election but its presence must have helped to keep its flock together.It was major setback for the Congress workers who would have an option to dent the hopes of SAD for 2017 assembly elections. Since Congress was principal opposition party, its stand would be dipressing for party cadre.
This may be coincidence that three seats of Dhuri, Talwandi Sabo and Khadoor Sahib where by-election was held in last one year, all were vacated by loyalists of Capt Amarinder Singh. The defeat of Congress on these seats had helped SAD to reinforce its position and get majority in the 117 member assembly. SAD president Sukhbir Badal who was dependent on BJP support to run the government got an upper hand. The Congress had contested Dhuri and Talwandi Sabo seats half heartedly due to factionalism in the party. The Dhuri and Talwandi Sabo seats were vacated by Arvind Khanna and Jeet Mohinder Singh both close confidents of Congress.
While Arvind Khanna didnt contest the election, Jeet Mahinder won his seat on SAD ticket. Sikki too was close to Capt Amarinder Singh and his decision to submit resignation was more filmsy. He cited sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib reason of his resignation even though he was not a stake holder and not part of the ruling party. Why an opposition MLA resign from his seat, is a mysterious logic ?
Ramanjit Sikki had got 66902 votes in the 2012 assembly election and defeated Ranjit Singh Brahmpura of SAD who got 63848 votes. This time Ravinder Singh Brahmpur SAD candidate has got abouit 83000 votes. SAD candidate got 20, 000 more votes than the 2012 election. It means the Congress vote bank has shifted to SAD and if SAD retained these votes, it would be big loss for the Congress party. In the 2012 assembly elections about 1.45 lakh voters cast their votes and this time total number of votes is just around 109593. It means about 40, 000 voters didnt turn to cast the votes. The major chunk of these voters seems to be supporters of Aam Aadmi Party(AAP). It shows that winning this seat in 2017 would not be a cake walk for SAD in 2017 elections when Congress and AAP would also be present.