With Congress opting out, it is SAD vs independents
With the Congress on Wednesday deciding not to contest the Khadoor Sahib bypoll, the battle has been reduced to the SAD versus Independents.
With the Congress on Wednesday deciding not to contest the Khadoor Sahib bypoll, the battle has been reduced to the SAD versus Independents.
Till recently, former Congress MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki, who had resigned from the post to protest against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in a Tarn Taran village, was the likely Congress candidate.
On Wednesday, people, officials and media kept waiting for Sikki. There were a lot of phone calls wanting to know about Sikki’s candidature. “Is Sikki coming to Khadoor Sahib to file the nomination papers? Has he left the Golden Temple for Khadoor Sahib? What did Capt Amarinder Singh decide on contesting the byelection? Is the Congress boycotting the bypoll?” were the questions doing the rounds of the SDM office.
Media and others were seen repeatedly calling sources close to Sikki and every time they got the reply that he had left the shrine or had reached Khadoor Sahib but was awaiting Amarinder’s decision. In the end, all were left waiting as he did not reach the office of the returning officer till the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Sikki’s family conducted an akhand paath at Gurdwara Mal Akhara to pray for Sikki’s victory. The bhog of the akhand paath was held around 11 am. The akhand paath was conducted as it was expected that Sikki might contest the bypoll.
Now, the battle is between SAD candidate Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, and independent candidates, mainly Congress rebel Bhupinder Singh Bittu and AAP dissident Bhai Baldeep Singh.
Of the other candidates who filed the nomination papers, Puran Singh is associated with Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar) but the party has no sway in the constituency. Rest of the candidates are independents. With the Congress boycotting the bypoll, the rest of the candidates had a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Sikki, who is busy with ‘sewa’ at the Golden Temple, remained inside the shrine throughout the day.