In a first, SAD fields candidate for Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat

SAD chief Sukhbir Badal made this announcement on Monday evening.

In 2006 and 2011, Hardeep’s father Gurnam Singh and brother Malkiat Singh were elected as councillors of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. However, they both passed away while serving their terms. Hardeep then became the councillor in 2015 (after brother’s death), 2016 and 2021. He also became the Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor too.

In 2018, Hardeep was selected as the SAD chief of Chandigarh. In the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Hardeep was always seen in alliance with the BJP. However, for the Lok Sabha, the SAD fielded Hardeep to fight against the BJP and Congress. Hardeep runs a tent business.

The councillor who has always had a strong hold in villages, especially Buterla and others, has maintained his stand of bringing villages on a par with urban belt in Chandigarh. Even in the general house, he has spoken of villages being given a stepmotherly treatment in terms of development.

While speaking to The Indian Express, Hardeep stated, “People have got fed up and have seen what BJP and Congress councillors have done to the city. They get elected and then are never seen. Every local issue still remains. They have not done nothing to solve the problems.”

He added, “This time as SAD contests the election for the first time from Chandigarh, you will see the shift. In 2021 corporation polls too, people were fed up with the BJP and Congress, and voted for anyone except them which was AAP and even AAP got into an alliance with Congress. So they need change and they will vote for us this time.”

The councillor stated that he will get all issues resolved once elected.

Hardeep’s brother: A councillor had passed away during study tour

During a study tour with other Chandigarh councillors in Port Blair, Hardeep’s brother had complained of stomach ache. Malkiat, 36, was then admitted to AIIMS-Delhi where he passed away.

Recently, the mayor had served a notice to remove the memorial gate installed in memory of Hardeep’s brother, an issue that had triggered furore in the general house.

All these LS polls years, the SAD has supported the BJP candidate in Chandigarh but this time it has decided to go solo and field the candidate for the first time.