Controversy over selection of AAP candidate in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, November 19, 2016 : Despite final date yet to announced by the Election Commission, all the political parties are up in arms and working on the final allotment of tickets to their candidates. While Aam Aadmi Party has announced all its four candidates in Ferozepur district, the Akali Dal had already announced its candidates except Ferozepur but Congress like previous years, yet studying over the selection of its candidates.
No doubt, every political party announced its candidates after proper scrutiny but the voters too are very smart and this time, AAP has earlier decided to field its candidates strictly on certain criterion like 3 Cs after scrutiny by the Selection Committee – Of a good character with no record or taint of having indulged in corrupt practices or criminal conduct and the voters would like to analyzing the status of the candidate in the past with reference to the party before casting of their votes.
AAP has taken the lead in announcing its candidates followed by Akali Dal with 69 candidates list diverting the attention of the people from demonetization announced by the Prime Minister to put a complete check over the ‘black money’ like a master stroke.
Late evening candidates announced by AAP are – Malkit Singh Thind called professionally a Registered Medical Practitioner popularly known as Doctor in the area, belongs to Kamboj community from Guruharsahai constituency. He is associated with the AAP right from the formation of the party and has become a known figure in the area especially when after his participated in the Shaheed Udham Singh martyr day celebrations on July 31, 2016 at Jantar Mantar by Kamboj community. In case the Kamboj factor worked, he will give a tough fight to both Akali and Congress candidates – Nony Mann and Rana Sodhi.
From Ferozepur, Narinder Singh Sandha, industrialist, businessman and farmer by profession, who too belongs to Kamboj community, has been given the ticket for AAP. Earlier he was associated with the Congress and quite close to former Cabinet Minister, Bal Mukand Sharma and is well conversant with the local politics.
Gurpreet Singh Gora has been nominated from Zira for AAP who is presently MC. He was earlier the supporter of Akali Dal and become councilor as Independent candidate leaving the party with the support of certain Congress workers. He has maintained his image more among the urban public than rural.
The first one candidate to be announced by AAP in Ferozepur was Mohan Singh Phalianwala from Ferozepur Rural. He has been MP for two times and majority of the voters are from Rai Sikh community in the border areas. The only plus point is that he had been two times MP having association with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and has niche in Dalit votes. Added here that during the last Lok Sabha elections, the AAP was polled the highest votes of all the constituencies.
So far there is no resentment over announcement of candidates at Zira, Guruharsahai and Ferozepur Rural but the claimant at Ferozepur – Sunil Vij Rice Miller – have come forward to put forth his claim before the Kejriwal. The other aspirant candidates were Gulshan Sharma son of Pt Bal Mukand Sharma. Even they have openly stated that Sandha candidate announced from Ferozepur does not fall within the criteria of selection by the party. The sources even said that on Thursday night, certain people left the marriage ceremony of Narinder Sandha’s son on announcement of his candidature for AAP.
