Only one minister elected: Four ministers, four MLAs, singers, parachute candidates bite the dust
NRI affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal lost to Congress's Gurjeet Singh Aujla in Amritsar by a margin of 40,301 votes.
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Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Dr Balbir Singh both lost with heavy margins. (Express Photo)At least four Cabinet ministers, four MLAs, two singers, and most of the turncoats were made to bite the dust by the people of Punjab in the Lok Sabha Elections, results of which were declared on Tuesday. Out of five Cabinet ministers fielded by ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), four were trounced. Only one, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, was able to win from Sangrur, defeating Congress’s Sukhpal Singh Khaira by a margin of 1,72,560 votes.
His colleagues including Health minister Dr Balbir Singh, was defeated by Congress’s Dr Dharamvira Gandhi by a margin of 14,831 votes in Patiala, Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian lost to Harsimrat Badal in Bathinda by a margin of 50,000 votes. Also, Transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was placed at number three in Khadoor Sahib from where radical Amritpal Singh emerged winner. Bhullar also trailed behind Congress’s Kulbir Singh Zira.
NRI affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal lost to Congress’s Gurjeet Singh Aujla in Amritsar by a margin of 40,301 votes.
On the other hand, two Congress heavyweights — former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa — won from Jalandhar and Gurdaspur, respectively.
AAP’s sitting MLAs, who were trounced included Ashok Parashar Pappi (Ludhiana Central MLA) from Ludhiana who trailed at number three, with Congress’ Amarinder Singh Raja Warring emerging victorious. Warring is also an MLA. AAP’s Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi lost to Congress MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. BJP’s Dinesh Babbu was placed at number two and Kalsi on number three, from Gurdaspur. AAP MLA Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar lost by a thin margin of 3242 votes to Congress party’s Sher Singh Ghubaya. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira also lost to AAP’s Meet Hayer in Sangrur.
The results also indicated that the voters did not accept parachute candidates such as Khaira, the Bholath MLA who contested from Sangrur, and former Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla, who lost to AAP’s Malvinder Kang from Anandpur Sahib. Only two turncoats won. They include Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, who shifted from Congress to AAP, and won from Hoshiarpur. Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who joined Congress days ahead of the polls, won from Patiala. The turncoats who lost included Ravneet Bittu, grandson of former CM Beant Singh, who ditched Congress to join BJP, was defeated by Congress’ Raja Warring.
AAP candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurpreet GP, who had defected from Congress, lost to Congress’ Dr Amar Singh. Preneet Kaur, BJP candidate and wife of former CM Amarinder Singh,who contested from Patiala was also placed on number three in her citadel. Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, a Congress turned BJP leader, was defeated from Ferozepur. Pawan Tinu, a SAD turncoat fielded by AAP from Jalandhar was defeated by Channi. Sushil Kumar Rinku, who was declared AAP candidate but joined BJP and contested from Jalandhar was also trounced. Congress leader turned SAD leader Mohinder Singh Kaypee was also humbled from Jalandhar. Parampal Kaur, who joined BJP after resigning from the IAS and contested against SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal also lost. Two singers including CM Bhagwant Mann’s aide Karamjit Anmol and BJP’s Hans Raj Hans were defeated in Faridkot by a radical Sarabjit Singh Khalsa.
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