Punjab assembly elections: Candidate for Badal family seat not named

BATHINDA: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is repeating history by not declaring candidates from constituencies where members of

Badal

family are expected to contest, even as the filing of nominations will start from January 25.

Ahead of the 2019 parliamentary polls too, SAD had declared its candidates for Ferozepur and Bathinda constituencies, from where SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and wife Harsimrat Badal contested, respectively, after the filing of nominations had already started. Names of the duo were declared on April 23, while nominations had started on April 22 that year. This year, SAD has declared candidates for 95 of the 97 constituencies from where it will contest in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party, which is contesting from the remaining 20 seats. Traditionally, former CM and SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal has been contesting from Lambi, but no name has been declared so far. Badal is down with Covid, but he is expected to contest from the seat.

Badal has won the last five assembly polls from Lambi. In 2019, Harsimrat had been campaigning from Bathinda much before her name was announced.


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