Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) has made it clear that the party would not withdraw the candidature of former Army chief General JJ Singh from Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency in support of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra “under political compulsions”. 

Even as majority of the party leaders are of the view that the Taksali party should support Bibi Khalra considering her contribution to the panth, the SAD (Taksali) president and sitting Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura has ruled out any such move. 

“The decision for not withdrawing General JJ Singh’s candidature in favour of Bibi Khalra has been taken in the party’s core committee meeting. The issue has been settled once and for all. General JJ Singh will contest from Khadoor Sahib against Bibi Khalra,” SAD (Taksali) leader told The Pioneer.

It has been learnt that during the party’s core committee meeting on Tuesday, the matter was discussed in detail and different points of views surfaced on the issue of extending support to PDA candidate Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Khalra from Khadoor Sahib constituency. 

Available information suggests that while a section of party leaders, including former Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and All India Sikh Student Federation’s (AISSF) former head Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, had pressed for supporting Bibi Khalra, but Brahampura vetoed the proposal. 

“Bibi Khalra is contesting as a candidate of Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) under the banner of PDA. We would have considered withdrawing our candidate in case she was contesting as an independent. It is more of a political compulsion for us,” said the SAD Taksali leader. 

It has also been learnt that the Taksalis have proposed to withdraw its candidate from Khadoor Sahib in Bibi Khalra’s support, if the PDA withdraws its candidate from Sri Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha segment in favour of its candidate Bir Devinder Singh. However, the things failed to materialise. 

Under the PDA, Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency was allotted to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from where it has fielded international Polo player Vikram Singh Sodhi. 

Initially when the PDA was formed, Taksalis were its part. But parted ways after it failed to arrive at consensus over seat sharing formula. Taksalis wanted Sri Anandpur seat, so was the BSP. But it was SAD Taksali’s move to announce Bir Devinder Singh as its candidate from Sri Anandpur Sahib that resulted in end of talks. 

Taksalis later tried to forge an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which also failed as both the parties had already announced their respective candidates from Sri Anandpur Sahib, and later refused to withdraw in favour of the other. 

Notably, PEP president Sukhpal Singh Khaira had appealed the Taksalis to withdraw their candidate in Bibi Khalra’s support. Khaira had also made it clear that the appeal was not because of SAD candidate and his arch rival Bibi Jagir Kaur, but “in the larger interest of the State, so that we would be able to defeat these anti-Punjab forces in Khadoor Sahib”. 

Khaira said that Bibi Khalra stand a very good chance “because of her contribution or the fight for human rights and the way she lost her husband, and they have been consistently fighting for human rights”. 

He argued that Bibi Khalra is a very good and a panthic candidate. “Our appeal to the SAD (Taksalis) is why you are dividing votes. Even as the Taksalis say that it is a panthic party, why they are opposing Khalra who is a panthic candidate? Somebody who has contributed so much should not be opposed.

What General JJ Singh has to do in Khadoor Sahib...Nothing! That’s why the appeal. It is not because of Bibi Jagir Kaur as she is no entity there,” he said.