It’s face to face between SAD-BJP and Congress

The Congress has put up candidates in nine constituencies and is supporting the Bahujan Samaj Party in remaining four constituencies.

The Akalis had contested the 1996 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the BSP winning eight seats while three seats gone to the BSP with the Congress retaining only Amritsar and Gurdaspur. The BJP did not win any seat last time. The BSP is contesting from all the three seats the party won in the last electionincluding Ferozepur, Phillaur and Hoshiarpur along with Ropar. In Phillaur, it is BSP versus Bahujan Samaj Morcha constituted by the leaders who revolted against the leadership of Kanshi Ram.

The two Left parties have also fielded their candidates from some seats. The CPI has its influence mainly in Bathinda and the CPI (M) in Sangrur. These parties have their pockets of influence in Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Phillaur and Ferozepur. Maximum number of 22 nominations have been filed in Ludhiana and the lowest six in Ropar. It would be a four cornered contest in Sangrur from where Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann has filed his papers. Former chief minister and senior Akali leader Surjit Singh Barnala is seeking re-election from Sangrur and the Congress has again fielded Gurcharan Singh Dadahoor to confront him. The CPI(M) has given the ticket to Chand Singh Chopra. The talks between Congress and the Leftists to set up a secular front at the state level to oppose the Akali Dal-BJP combinefailed. The state unit of the CPI has even passed a resolution favouring such a front and sought clearance from its high command.

PATIALA : A total of 16 candidates have filed their nominations. Those who filed their papers today include Jaswinder Singh, Murari Lal, Prem Singh, Prem Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Gurcharan Singh and Surinder Kaur ( all independents), Kulwant Singh ( Akali Dal – Amritsar), Om Prakash (Lok Shakti), Parveen (Congress-S) and Amarjit Singh Ramgarhia (BSP).

JALANDHAR: Naresh Gujral, son of Prime Minister I. K. Gujral today filed nomination papers as a covering candidate for his father from Jalandhar. Three others filed papers from Jalandhar seat on the last day of filing nominations here today taking the total to eleven. Nirmal Kaur, daughter-in-law of Congress candidate Umrao Singh filed her papers as a covering candidate for him. Gurdev Singh of the CPI (M-L) and two independents also filed their papers on the last day.

For Phillaur parliamentary constituency also, elevennominations have been filed. Prominent among the contestants include, Harbhajan Lakha of the BSP and Satnam Singh Kainth of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha. There were four nominations for the Phillaur seat on the last day of nominations today. They were Hans Raj CPI (M-L), Harpal Singh of Akali Dal (A) and two independents.LUDHIANA: Eight more nomination papers were filed for this seat taking the total to 22.

They are Amrik Singh Aliwal (Akali Dal), Gurcharan Singh Galib, Amarjit Kaur, Ravinder Singh, Narinder Singh (Punjab Vikas Party), Sardul Singh (BSP-Ambedkar), Sukhwinder Singh (All India Lok Raj Party), Subhash Chander Tandon (All India Rajivwadi congress), Jeetan Kaur (CPI-ML), Balwinderjit Singh (All India Garib Congress), Karnail Singh (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Karnail Singh (Shaheed Baba Bachittar Singh Akali Dal), Ratti Ram, Jagjit Singh, Gurbux Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Bhupinder Singh Yadav, Kuldip Singh and Rachhpal Singh (all independents).

MOGA: Fou more filed their notations papers fromFaridkot Lok Sabha constituency including Sukhpal Singh, Sukhbir Singh Pakki Tibbi, Avtar Singh and Brij Lal. A total of eight candidates have filed their nominations. The main contest is between Sukhbir Singh Badal of the Akali Dal and Jagmeet Singh Brar of the Congress.

GURDASPUR: Eight more candidate filed their nomination paper including Ram Parshad (Rashtriya Janata Dal) N.K. Maan (Bhartiya Kisan Kamghar Party ) Elizabeth Sarup Singh, Jagdish Chander, Bishambar Dass, Tilak Raj and Foiya Singh.

HOSHIARPUR: Kamal Choudhary of the BJP was among seven others who filed their nomination today. Mahant Ram Parkash Dass files paper as his covering candidate. Others who filed nominations are Balwinder Singh, Lawrence and Kamaljit.