In a move that has stirred the political pot in Punjab, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa — the son of Beant Singh – one of the assassins of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — has thrown his hat into the ring for the parliamentary elections. Khalsa is set to contest as an independent candidate from the Faridkot (reserved) constituency, adding a new dimension to an already heated electoral battle.
Speaking about his decision to enter the fray, 45-year-old Khalsa expressed that the call to run for office came from the people of Faridkot themselves. Determined to make his mark in the political arena, he affirmed his candidacy as an independent, signaling a breakaway from traditional party affiliations.
Khalsa’s familial connection to one of the most significant events in Indian political history cannot be overlooked. His father Beant Singh, along with Satwant Singh, were the bodyguards responsible for the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. Now, decades later, Khalsa is stepping into the political spotlight, seeking to carve out his own path in the realm of governance.
This is not Khalsa’s first foray into electoral politics. He previously contested the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from the Bathinda seat, garnering 1.13 lakh votes. Despite his initial setback, he remained undeterred and went on to contest 2007 Punjab assembly polls from the Bhadaur seat in Barnala, albeit without success. In 2014, Khalsa again tried his luck once more in the Lok Sabha polls, this time from the Fatehgarh Sahib seat, yet faced defeat again. In 2019, he unsuccessfully contested as BSP candidate.
Notably, his mother, Bimal Kaur, tasted success in the political arena, being elected as an MP from the Ropar seat in 1989; while his grandfather Sucha Singh became MP from Bathinda.
With his eyes firmly set on representing the people of Faridkot, Khalsa is entering the electoral arena with determination and resolve. His candidacy added an intriguing dynamic to an already competitive race for the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat.
In the battle for Faridkot, Khalsa is facing formidable opponents. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Punjabi actor Karamjit Anmol — a close aide of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put forward renowned Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans — a former MP as their candidates. Currently, Punjabi folk singer and Congress leader Mohammad Sadique is holding the seat, and is likely to be renominated.
