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Sangrur bypoll: BJP fields ex-MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon to breach Punjab CM's turf
The Sangrur by-poll is taking place due to the resignation of its MP Bhagwant Mann, who is now the Punjab chief minister. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has roped in Punjab CM's close aide Gurmail Singh as the candidate for the Sangrur bypoll.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday announced the candidate for the by-elections to the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, which goes to polls on June 23.
The 72-year-old former MLA from Barnala had joined the saffron party on Saturday. He had won the 2007 and 2012 elections from the seat on a Congress ticket. Dhillon was denied a Congress ticket from Barnala in 2022 polls and was expelled on February 17 for alleged anti-party activities. He will file his nominations today.
The by-poll is taking place due to the resignation of its MP Bhagwant Mann, who is now the Punjab chief minister.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has roped in Punjab CM's close aide Gurmail Singh as the candidate for the Sangrur bypolls. The Lok Sabha seat is considered to be an AAP stronghold since 2014 when Mann had entered the lower house by winning the seat. In the 2022 elections, the AAP won all nine assembly seats in Sangrur- Lehra, Dirba, Barnala, Sunam, Bhadaur, Mehal Kalan, Malerkotla, Dhuri and Sangrur.
Meanwhile, Congress has fielded former MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy from Sangrur. Goldy is a former MLA from the Dhuri Assembly seat which he won in 2017. However, he lost to chief minister Bhagwant Mann in the recent elections.
The bypolls to Sangrur seat are being held amid heightened tensions in the state following the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala in Mansa district of Punjab on May 29. The Punjab Police have stepped up investigations, identifying eight sharpshooters while carrying out raids to nab those linked to the murder of the singer, who was also a Congress leader.
Three suspects have also been arrested amid probe into Moose Wala's murder which has sent shockwaves across the nation.
Sangrur will go to polls on June 23. The counting of votes will take place on June 26.
