Younger state Assembly on cards

Most of the parties have planned go for major changes while fielding candidates in the Assembly elections slated for February next year. While a significant number of sittings MLAs may not get the tickets,the focus appears more on youth and women candidates for the next elections.

Sources said that to counter the anti-incumbency factor of the government or particular candidate,the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is set to replace 30 per cent of its sitting legislators with new faces. Reason: the non-performers have to be dropped for better prospects.

The party is reportedly going to field several new faces and the choice may be based on the surveys by different private agencies that the SAD ordered to check the ground reality. Also several bureaucrats and senior police officers may get the tickets.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that an assessment of all seats was under way. “It is for the party to decide on the candidates. Some legislators would have to be changed due to the delimitation exercise. The performance of legislators will be the sole criteria for granting the party ticket,” he added.

Sources said that the last time Akali Dal gave 23 seats to BJP out of which it won 19 seats. This time some seats may be swapped between the coalition partners. SAD reportedly wants Garshankar,Batala and Amritsar (South) assembly seats while the BJP is eyeing Bathinda and Barnala constituencies.

In fact the BJP has even near about finalised the names for the seats – Kamal Sharma for Bathinda and Harjit Singh Garewal for Barnala.

Sources in the Congress said that the party might drop 20 per cent of sitting MLAs. In the constituencies where there are two strong contenders,a third candidate could be an option.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh said,“New faces would get a chance in the elections as party president Sonia Gandhi has said that more young people and women should be given representation. The MLAs who are performing will be retained.’’

Talking to The Indian Express,Manpreet Singh Badal,president of the People’s Party of Punjab said,“We will field candidates from all walks of life – from the defence background to entertainment industry and education sector. We will offer to the people of Punjab candidates who are credible and honest.”

“We are not keen on candidates who claim that they can “win”. Instead we will field persons who represent our party’s ideology even if they are not able to win the seat.’’

He admitted that the PPP will be fielding Gurdas Singh Badal,Manpreet’s father,from Lambhi,if Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal fights from that seat. “If PS Badal does not contest from that seat then some other candidate may be named,’’ he added.