Harish Monga
AAP is not at the back foot rather main strong opposition: Kaka Sran
Political equations in Ferozepur, AAP picks Kaka for Lok Sabha seat
Ferozepur, April 8, 2019: Aam Admi Party – AAP has picked Harjinder Singh Kaka Sran – a farmer by profession as its candidate for coming Lok Sabha elections on in the state.
Earlier only PDA has announced its candidates while the two major political parties – Congress and BJP are yet to take a decision and still on the wait and watch policy. PDA has named Comrade Hans Raj Golden for Lok Sabha elections from Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency.
While speaking to media persons, Harjinder Singh Kaka Sran was seen quite confident to win the seat from Ferozepur. Born on May 9, 1971, Kaka 48, a farmer by profession, graduate from Punjabi University, has not been in limelight in politics but this time he looks to be active. I will try to take all the party leaders and workers with me during the elections and AAP has landed me to win. He said AAP is not at the back foot rather main strong opposition.
As per the sources, he has also worked for some time as a journalist. He was in the leading team when Kejriwal has given a call for change in the system along with Anna Hazare in 2013 and he had great contribution in 2014 LS Polls. Kaka is also said to be close to Bhagwant Mann and had organized his various programmes. In the AAP circles, the decision to field Kaka from Ferozepur is taken as a surprise while Ranbir Singh Bhullar district president confirmed it a right decision of the party.
Political equations in Ferozepur:
Congress could not win Ferozepur seat since 1985. In 13 elections after 1969, 7 times SAD, 3 times Congress and one time Independent candidate of SAD(Mann) candidates have won and in this way, Akalis have upper hand most of the time. In 1991 in Punjab, out of 13 seats, Congress had won 12 seats but from Ferozepur Congress has lost and Mohan Singh Phalliawala of BSP had won. Last time, in 1985 Gurdyal Singh Dhillon had won as Congress candidate in 1985 defeating Inderjit Singh of Akali Dal. Now after 34 years, the standing of Akali Dal is not so sound and in case the Congress field its strong and winnable candidate, the Congress can retain this seat after a long gap.
Both Congress and SAD-BJP have not opened their cards for the candidate from Ferozepur. However, with the fielding of Sunil Jakhar as Congress candidate from Ferozepur, the Congress High Command is still in a fix over deciding the right candidate despite staking claim by various leaders – Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, MLA and Sports Minister, Raminder Singh Awla former Punjab Youth Congress President and Sher Singh Ghubaya especially after the viral of sting operation video by some TV channel. Ghubhaya in a press conference at Jalalabad had said “I can anytime be shot down.. my life is under threat”.
As per speculations, Sukhbir Singh Badal as SAD candidate from Ferozepur as his Assembly Constituency Jalalabad is part of this Lok Saha segment, Congress is struggling to take a final decision due to internal fighting and divergence of opinion about the selection of ‘winnable candidate’.
It is pertinent to mention that during the last Lok Sabha elections when there was a waive for Aam Admi Party – AAP, Satnam Pal Kamboj – advocate by profession, got 1,13,412 votes with the support of the Kamboj community.
Sher Singh Ghubaya who has joined the Congress after two times sitting Akali MP following differences with party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed of joining the Congress with the commitment to get the ticket from Ferozepur is said to have vote bank of Rai Sikh community.
Added here, Mohan Singh Phallianwala old-war horse and former two-time MP from Ferozepur has also joined the Congress last week.
Meanwhile, talking to media persons, Sukhbir Singh Badal during his visit to Guruharsahai to attend some religious function has said that the party would take the decision soon on this seat and in case the party asked him to contest; he would take the fight head-on.