Preneet Kaur: Four-time MP who remains accessible, but has lost close aide

She switched over to BJP recently and is their candidate

Four-time sitting Congress MP from Patiala and former external affairs minister, Preneet Kaur will be contesting for the first time on Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

Constituency — Patiala, Punjab

MP profile: Four-time sitting Congress MP from Patiala and former external affairs minister, Preneet Kaur will be contesting for the first time on Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. The 79-year-old Preneet Kaur, is the wife of two-time former Chief Minister and scion of erstwhile Royal family of Patiala, Capt Amarinder Singh. Amarinder had joined BJP in 2022 after facing an unceremonious exit as CM from Congress. Preneet Kaur followed her husband into the BJP and formally joined it recently and was fielded by the party from Patiala. Preneet was elected for the first time in 1999, then in 2004 and then in 2009. She lost once to Dr Dharamvira Gandhi in 2014. She won her seat again in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. She ranked among top 10 MPs in 14th & 15th Lok Sabha in utilisation of MPLAD funds. She was suspended by the Congress in February last year for supporting BJP and participating in their programmes.

funds

Later, in November, she went against Congress and voted against TMC MP Mohua Moitra, in favour of her expulsion from the Parliament. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, contesting from the Congress party, Preneet won the Patiala seat by over 1.6 lakh votes defeating Akali Dal’s Surjit Singh Rakhra, who had received 3,69,309 votes. She may face a challenge this time as her aide and former Congress MLA Hardyal Kamboj, who used to be her army general in elections, has not switched sides.

Any private member bill: No

Accessibility of MP: Preneet Kaur is known to keep in touch with her workers and electorate. It is usually stated that she addresses her workers by their first names and is known to attend their functions. But during former CM Amarinder Singh’s tenure, the workers got offended stating that the erstwhile royal family had become inaccessible. After Amarinder lost the 2022 Assembly election from his Patiala (Urban) Assembly segment, is it said that Preneet has become more accessible.

kaur

Constituency profile: A pocket borough of Amarinder’s family till 2014, when Dr Dharamvira Gandhi defeated Preneet Kaur, Patiala has been with her for 20 years. Patiala Lok Sabha constituency comprises nine Assembly segments of Nabha, Patiala rural, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Ghanaur, Sanour, Patiala (urban), Samana and Shutrana. All nine seats are represented by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. An erstwhile Royal city, Patiala is known for Patiala peg, jutti, parandi and Patiala salwar. It has several architectural marvels, including Qila Mubarak, Moti Bagh Palace, Sheesh Mahal, and Bahadurgarh Fort. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, grandfather of Amarinder Singh, was one of the most controversial and colourful royal. A sports university exists in his name in Patiala. Patiala gets flooded sometimes due to its Badi Nadi. As a part of an old ritual, the scion of royal family offers traditional nath and chura to Badi Nadi. It is believed that this ritual helps in mitigating floods. The ritual was performed by Preneet Kaur last year as Amarinder was away.

Candidates in fray: BJP candidate Preneet Kaur is locked in a four-cornered contest with two doctors, and a realtor. While Dr Dharamvira Gandhi has been fielded by the Congress, Dr Balbir Singh has got an AAP ticket. SAD has chosen NK Sharma as its candidate for the seat.

Compiled by Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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