Family first

Besides the former CM’s family,the Congress has nominated close relatives of many leaders. The list includes those related to former CMs Partap Singh Kairon,Harcharan Singh Brar and Beant Singh,besides senior leaders like Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and five of the eight party MPs.

Even where the party has chosen to field women and youth,there is a clear stamp of nepotism. Six of the 11 women candidates are from “political families”. Thus,MP Partap Singh Bajwa’s wife Charanjit Kaur has been fielded from Qadian,MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee’s wife Suman is a candidate from Jalandhar (east) and former state party chief Shamsher Singh Dullo’s wife Harbans Kaur is the candidate from Bassi Pathana. Kiran Kaur,wife of ailing Congress MLA Sunny Brar (son of a former CM) is the party candidate from Muktsar. Satkar Kaur,wife of Youth Congress leader Jasmel Singh,is candidate from Ferozepur (rural). Simarpreet Kaur,wife of Congress leader Harpal Bhatia who recently died,is the candidate from Amritsar (east). MP Santosh Chaudhary’s husband,Ram Lubhaya is the nominee from Sham Chaurasi.

Vikram Bajwa,son-in-law of former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal who is now the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly,is among those given the party ticket. Another young candidate,Gurkirat Singh,is related to MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and is a grandson of former CM Beant Singh.

The Akalis had set a new record in this regime by having the largest number of ministers closely related to the CM. These included Badal’s son Sukhbir,son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh,nephew Manpreet Singh Badal who rebelled and formed his own party,and Sukhbir’s brother-in-law Bikramjit Singh Majithia. Manpreet is contesting from two seats on PPP ticket. All others have been renominated as SAD candidates.

Even Manpreet,who had vowed not to allot ticket to any relative has given a ticket to his father Gurdas Badal to contest against Parkash Singh Badal from Lambi constituency. Besides,the SAD has also given ticket to Kuldip Kaur Tohra,daughter of Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

The BJP,too,is following the trend. MP Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife,also named Navjot,has been given a ticket from Amritsar.

Politics has split families with brothers turning against each other. The CM is pitted against brother in Lambi and the third candidate from the constituency is their cousin Mahesh Inder Singh Badal of the Congress. Amarinder’s estranged brother Malvinder may not,however,enter the poll fray.