The big fight: Majithia to take on Sidhu in Amritsar

Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia will also contest from Majitha; Cong govt has targeted him, battle now in people’s court, says Sukhbir Badal

Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia will take on Punjab Pradesh Congress (PCC) president Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East. (Express file photos)

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday announced that senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia would take on Punjab Pradesh Congress (PCC) president Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East, besides contesting from Majitha constituency. Sidhu is the sitting MLA from Amritsar East, while Majithia is the sitting MLA in Majitha.

Badal also announced that his father, former chief minister and party patron Parkash Singh Badal, would contest the Assembly election from Lambi, from where he is the sitting MLA. At 94, the senior Badal is likely to be among the oldest candidates this election.

While announcing Majithia’s candidature from Amritsar East, Badal said, “Navjot Sidhu’s arrogance will be his undoing. He has been harping on about his support among the masses. Now his support will be tested with ‘Majha da sher’ taking him on in his home constituency. He should get ready to fight the brave SAD workers. We will break his arrogance by ensuring he loses his security deposit.”

Badal said, “We have called Navjot Sidhu’s bluff. We know he has not done anything in his constituency for the last five years. He did not do anything in his constituency even as local bodies’ minister (in the Amarinder Cabinet). Now the people of his constituency will hold him to account.”

In the 2017 elections, Sidhu had defeated the BJP’s Rakesh Kumar Honey by over 40,000 votes. His wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu had won the same seat on a BJP ticket in 2012.

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Accusing the Congress government of targeting his brother-in-law Majithia and registering a “false case” against him, Badal said, “Majithia is known to fight for the people. This was not to the liking of the Congress government. They have registered a false case against a Gursikh who is known to do ‘nitnem’ (reciting of Sikh religious text) for two and a half hours every day. Our workers also realised that the best way to seek justice for Majithia was in the people’s court and it is they who prevailed upon the party to make him the party candidate from Amritsar East.”

Weeks ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, Majithia was booked in a drugs case under sections of the NDPS Act.

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Badal also announced that the party’s chief sewadar from Amritar East, Gurpreet Randhawa, would be Majithia’s election in-charge.

The SAD president used the occasion to induct three-time Congress MLA Ranjit Singh Chajjalwadi and his son Satinder Singh into the party, along with some Congress sarpanches and block samiti members. Badal also announced that Satinder would contest from Jandiala.

Sidhu had sought a Congress ticket for Satinder from Baba Bakala, but the party gave the ticket to sitting MLA Santokh Singh Bhalaipur.

Meanwhile, former Union minister and Majithia’s sister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said in Amritsar, “Today, I prayed at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib that if my brother Bikram (Singh Majithia) is involved in any way in the spread of the drug menace, may Guru Sahib inflict the most horrible punishment on each and every member of our family. But if it’s not true, those who told brazen lies on this issue as well as on the painful subject of sacrilege of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib may also be made to face the same fate.”

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More