Congress turned the tide in its favour by winning 78 out of 117 seats, but the wave did not translate into victory for some of its key leaders in Malwa
As the high-stakes poll battle for the 15th Vidhan Sabha in Punjab came to an end with a stomping victory for Congress, the elections also marked the political defeat of some of the senior leaders and stalwarts of various parties.
Congress turned the tide in its favour by winning 78 out of 117 seats, but the wave did not translate into victory for some of its key leaders in Malwa. Punjab Congress Vice-President Sunil Jakhar, who is also a close confidante of Captain Amarinder Singh, lost the elections from Abohar. The incumbent MLA was defeated by BJP candidate Arun Narang.
Former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also faced crunching defeat from Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa (SAD) in her traditional bastion, the Lehra constituency in Sangrur. Though Dhindsa was a sitting MLA from Sunam, he contested from Lehra, where Bhattal had won in 2012. Congress MP Ravneet Bittu who was fielded against Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal lost as well.
Saddled by anti-incumbency, at least 12 of the 18 Cabinet ministers of SAD failed to secure their seats. Agricultural Minister Tota Singh bore the brunt of people’s resentment for his alleged involvement in the pesticide scam and lost the election from Dharamkot.
CM Parkash Singh Badal’s son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, who is also the longest-serving minister of the state, lost the election from Patti. He was defeated by Congress’s Harminder Singh Gill.
Sikander Singh Maluka, who hurtled from one controversy to another, had to face defeat. Education Minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Sohan Singh Dhandal, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, two-time MLA Gulzar Singh Ranike, and Surjit Singh Rakhra were among others who lost the elections. BJP’s senior leader Anil Joshi, who contested from Amritsar (north), also lost the elections.
Sukhbir Badal’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia, who was the target of AAP’s anti-drug crusade, however, steered to victory right from the start.
Apart from political big-wigs, the elections also altered the fortunes of some new entrants. Former Army Chief Lt General (Retd) J J Singh, who joined SAD and was pitted against former CM Captain Amarinder Singh from Patiala (Urban), lost the election with a wide margin.
Singer Satwinder Singh Bitti, who joined Congress and contested her first elections from Sahnewal, lost to SAD minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. Comedian-turned-AAP state Convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich, who contested his first elections from Batala, also faced defeat.
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