On Askhaya Tritiya, biggies queue up at RO offices; 82 file papers

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said a total 82 candidates filed their nomination papers on Friday taking the total to 143 since May 7, when the nomination process began.

Aam Aadmi Party’s Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Congress’s Yamini Gomar filed their nomination from Hoshiarpur, while SAD’s Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Congress’s Channi, BJP’s Rinku, and BSP’s Balwinder Kumar filed their nominations from the Jalandhar constituency.

Channi, addressing a gathering, attacked both the AAP and BJP on the issues of drug abuse and lack of development. He also warned against the potential consequences of a BJP resurgence, alleging a conspiracy to alter the Constitution and nation’s fabric, and erasing of the legacy of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Earlier, Channi paid obeisance at the Bhagwan Parshuram Temple and the Gurdwara in Model Town. He was accompanied by Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and state Congress in-charge Harish Chaudhary.

Former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu filed his nomination papers from Amritsar as the BJP candidate. Before filing nomination papers, Sandhu took out a roadshow in Amritsar with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar accompanying him.

Jaishankar later told reporters, “We have full confidence that the people of Amritsar will elect him and will send him to Delhi. He will be a very good MP in Parliament. He is the most popular ambassador of India.”

If Punjab’s side and Amritsar’s interest have to be put forward, you cannot choose a better man than Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Jaishankar asserted.

Shiromani Akali Dal nominee Anil Joshi filed his nomination papers from the Amritsar seat. Congress’s Sukhjinder Randhawa filed his nomination from the Gurdaspur seat. He was accompanied by MLAs Aruna Chaudhary and Barindermeet Singh Pahra. BJP’s Dinesh Babbu also filed his nomination papers from the Gurdaspur seat. BJP candidate and three-time MP Ravneet Singh Bittu filed his nomination papers from Ludhiana.

AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Congress nominee Jeet Mohinder Sidhu filed their papers from the Bathinda seat. SAD’s NK Sharma filed his nomination papers from the Patiala seat.

From Khadoor Sahib, BJP’s Manjit Singh and Gurdial Singh of the Communist Party of India filed their nominations.
From Anandpur Sahib, SAD’s Prem Singh Chandumajra and AAP’s Malvinder Singh Kang filed their papers. AAP candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib Gurpreet Singh also filed his papers.

May 11 and 12 being gazetted holidays, no nomination papers can be filed. Nomination filing will continue till May 14, while the scrutiny will take place on May 15. Last date for the withdrawal of nominations is May 17.