BALLOT BATTLE

In a strategic move that added a dynamic twist to Punjab’s political landscape, the Congress party on Monday unveiled its second list of Lok Sabha candidates, featuring two female contenders —Yamini Gomar and Amarjit Kaur Sahoke — both poised to challenge traditional norms in Hoshiarpur and Faridkot constituencies, respectively.

Yamini Gomar — a former Aam Aadmi Party’s leader — will step into the electoral fray from Hoshiarpur; while Amarjit Kaur Sahoke — who joined politics following her husband’s demise, will assumed the mantle in Faridkot, replacing the sitting MP and renowned Punjabi folk singer Mohammad Sadique.

Amarjit Kaur Sahoke, the wife of Bhupinder Sahoke, had previously contested the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections from Nihal Singh Wala constituency but faced defeat. On the other hand, Gomar had contested 2014 Lok Sabha polls on AAP ticket but was unsuccessful. She later switched allegiance to the Congress in 2016 due to ideological differences with AAP leadership.

Amarjit Sahoke, hailing from Moga district, represented the Mazhabi Sikh majority of the Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency. Her candidature was approved following the other contender — former MLA Sukhwinder Danny — withdrew his candidacy a day in the wake of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s candidacy from Jalandhar.

In Hoshiarpur, where the BJP holds influence, the Congress has opted for a female candidate fielding Yamini Gomar against incumbent BJP MP and Union Minister Som Parkash’s wife Anita Sim Parkash.

Now, the Congress is left with the announcement of candidates for five seats, including Khadoor Sahib, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Anandpur Sahib, and Ferozepur.

It has been learnt that the Congress Election Committee may now announce the names of candidates for the remaining five seats after April 25, considering that elections in Punjab are in the last and final stages, and the party did not want to make any decision in haste impacting its poll prospects.

In meetings held earlier in Delhi, indications were that the Congress is considering not to field its sitting MPs Jasbir Singh Gill ‘Dimpa’ from Khadoor Sahib and Mohammad Sadique from Faridkot. Additionally, the party had also made up its mind to field women candidates from the two reserved seats.

For Anandpur Sahib seat, the party is considering the name of Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh’s family, as the party’s sitting MP Manish Tewari has been fielded from Chandigarh. At the same time, the Congress is contemplating a Hindu face taking into account the majority of Hindu voters in Anandpur Sahib segment.

In the first list, the Congress had announced the names of six candidates, including two sitting MPs — Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar and Dr Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib. Besides, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Chanani was fielded from Jalandhar, former AAP MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala, former MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira from Sangrur.

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Congress Candidates for Lok Sabha seats