CHANDIGARH: Sukhbir Singh Badal president of Shiromani Akali Da;(SAD) and his wife Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal have jumped into the Lok Sabha contest together making it a surprise couple entry. They however face the allegatins of 'Match Fixing' with Congress party.
Sukhbir Badal, who is a sitting MLA from the Jalalabad Assembly seat, has become SAD nominee from Ferozepur and Harsimrat BaDdal is named as the party's candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. She had won this seat in 2009 and 2014.
Opposition leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the newly formed Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) are alleging that the names of the Badal couple were announced at the last minute by the Akali Dal only after the party leadership reached an 'understanding' with the ruling Congress in Punjab to give "weak" candidates against them.
Harpal Singh Cheema AAP MLA and leader of opposition said that this was a clear case of match fixing between Badal family and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh who had also helped Badals to win family seats in the 2017 assembly electins. Bhagwant Mann state president Aam Aadmi Party endorsed the views of Cheema. He said that Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh wanted to keep power within their families.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira president of Punjabi Ekta Party(PEP) said that Badals had announced their candidates after deal was struck with Congress. He added that Congress had given week canidates against Badal couple.
The Congress has fielded sitting legislator Amrinder Singh Raja Warring against Harsimrat in Bathinda and former Akali Dal leader Sher Singh Gubhaya, who is the sitting MP from Ferozepur and defected to the Congress recently, against Sukhbir Badal.