Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll: SAD-BSP names sitting MLA Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi as its candidate

“Pleased to announce that SAD-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alliance has decided to field prominent activist, two time Banga legislator & senior Akali leader Dr Sukhi as its candidate for the Jalandhar parliamentary by-election,” said Badal in a tweet.

The SAD had earlier said that it would contest the upcoming Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll with the support of its ally BSP.

ENT specialist Dr Sukhi, who was the only MLA from Doaba and among the three MLAs of Akali Dal who won the 2022 Punjab Vidhan Sabha assembly elections, said that people should see the work that he has done in the Banga constituency and vote for him based on his work.

Sukhbir said that Dr Sukhi, who started with the BSP and had joined the SAD in October 2012, was chosen unanimously by the alliance.

“We were considering a few names but then zeroed in on Dr Sukhi’s name. He is not only known for his philanthropic works but also for his performance in Banga. There is a need to save Punjab from a ‘Gunda’ rule as the people in power are looting the state. SAD-BSP’s aim is to maintain mutual cohesion, social brotherhood and communal harmony. Punjab will progress if the social brotherhood is established,” Sukhbir said, adding that Dr Sukhi is the ideal candidate.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sukhi said that it was unfortunate that an attempt was being made to paint Sikhs as separatists and the AAP government is creating an atmosphere of fear in Punjab. “Hindus are afraid in Punjab and representation of Dalits in the Scheduled Caste Commission has been halved by the AAP government. The need of the hour is to maintain communal harmony,” he said.

BSP state president Jasvir Singh Garhi said that Dr Dr Sukhi’s family was part of the BSP ‘bhaichara’ (brotherhood) and has always worked for the uplift of the weaker sections. “Dr Sukhi’s work speaks for him and he is the right candidate for the post,” he said.

Senior BSP leader Avtar Singh Karimpuri said that while it was unfortunate that the BJP was following in the footsteps of the Congress, the BSP cadre would ensure an overwhelming victory to the SAD-BSP joint candidate.

The polling for the Jalandhar parliamentary seat will take place on May 10 while the counting will be held on May 13. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January. Chaudhary, 76, died after suffering a cardiac arrest during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jalandhar’s Phillaur.