SAD pits Majithia against Sidhu; 94-year-old Badal joins Lambi race

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday unveiled two big-ticket electoral bets — persuading former CM Parkash Singh

Badal

to shelve his retirement plans to contest the Lambi seat and choosing MLA

Bikram

Singh

Majithia

, who is facing the heat in a narcotics case, to take on Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Bikram, who is his brother-in-law, would defend his citadel Majithia in addition to accepting the challenge of breaking Sidhu’s “arrogance”. He said Badal senior, his father, agreeing to contest the election was also a boost for the party.

“The entire party had pleaded with Sardar Parkash Singh Badal not to retire from politics, and he acceded to our request. Badal Sahab has always been at the forefront of service for the welfare of Punjab and Punjabis. He is doing so again,”

Sukhbir

said.

Putting up a stout defence of Bikram, whose plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday, the SAD chief said the former had been falsely implicated in the narcotics case to prevent him from contesting the assembly polls.

“Sidhu’s arrogance will be his undoing. He has been harping on mass support, which will now be tested by our ‘Majha da sher’ taking him on in his home constituency. He should get ready to fight the brave SAD workers. We will ensure he loses his security deposit. We know he has not done anything in his constituency for the last five years,” Sukhbir said.

SAD fielded

Satinder Singh Chajjwalwadi

, son of three-time legislator Ranjit Singh Chajjalwadi, in the Baba Bakala seat. Sukhbir formally inducted the Chajjalwadi family into the party on Wednesday.