Congress, BJP yet to declare candidates for Ferozepur, AAP candidate may get credit of delay

LOK SABHA ELECTIONS 2024

Congress, BJP yet to declare candidates for Ferozepur, AAP candidate may get credit of delay

Ferozepur, May 5, 2024:  Countdown for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab has started as only 27 days have been left, for June 1, the scheduled date for voting in Punjab.  It is perhaps for the first time that Congress and BJP, the major two political parties, are yet to announce their candidates.

However, AAP too took time to decide its candidates in the state as 8 MLAs have been fielded in the state, with all Kings and No Queen. If they are elected, then there will be by-elections putting an extra burden on the state. Aam Aadmi Party was the first to announce its candidate Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar, MLA from Muktsar for MP elections from Ferozepur constituency.  Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister has already showcased the Road Show in favour of AAP candidate in Ferozepur.

It was followed by SAD(A), field Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, a retiree from Punjab Police, slain gangster’s father and one AAP leader, Fouji Angrez Singh, on denying the ticket has decided to contest the election as an Independent candidate. SAD has announced its candidate Nardev Singh Bobby Mann son of late Zora Singh Mann, MP.  While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had announced the name of Surinder Kamboj (68), the father of AAP Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Singh Goldy Kamboj, as its candidate from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat just two days after he joined Mayawati-led party.  He is said to be allegedly involved in several cases registered against him though not convicted in any of the cases.

The inordinate delay has left party workers dissatisfied as there will not be sufficient time for campaigning now and also feel upset over the indecisiveness of the party.

There was a rumour of former Congress MLA Raminder Awla joining the BJP but he has not yet joined, which has put the party to give a second thought in choosing the candidate.  Similarly, this is the position for the BJP candidate for which Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi is the aspirant, who too was earlier in Congress.  The support of the workers from the home party, on joining the new party looks to be difficult to digest.   The speculations and inside stories of the political parties are a part of discussions in the political circles, with no judgements and all are waiting for the parties to announce their candidates, to make the election campaign environment in Ferozepur.

An old-timer voter, Satya Pal said, it looks like Punjab is not on the priority list of the high commands of major political parties or the delay is intentional and waiting for each other to announce their candidate first for Ferozepur.

Sources said, the number of aspirants and names suggested were on the higher side, and could not decide the right candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.  Since the SAD too doesn’t have an alliance with the BJP, it looks like infighting and delay in the announcement of candidates by the major political parties will leave no option for the voters to go in for the AAP candidate.  If the support of 8 AAP MLAs, out of 9 except Abohar, in the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency is extended to the Kaka Brar candidate, the chances of winning this seat by the AAP candidate, will be bright getting the credit for this delay.  It is also said that the voting in MP elections is for the party and not the candidates.