will-radical-preacher-amritpal-contest-parliamentary-elections

Radical Sikh preacher and the chief of the Waris Punjab De organisation is understood to be considering fighting as an independent candidate from the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency. 

 

Newspaper reports quoting his lawyer Rajdev Singh Khalsa said that Amritpal will contest as an independent candidate from Khadoor Sahib, a predominantly panthic parliamentary constituency.

 

Earlier, there were speculations that Amritpal might contest as a candidate from the Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar headed by another radical leader Simranjit Singh Mann.

 

Now Amritpal is believed to be considering contesting as an independent candidate, provided he is not opposed by any other Akali party, including the Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal.

 

Amritpal is currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act.

 

While his lawyer has confirmed that he will contest as an independent candidate, Amritpal’s family members have so far not confirmed whether he will contest or not. The family members, it is learnt, have decided to meet him in Dibrugarh jail and confirm with him in person whether he was going to contest or not.

 

The Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar will undoubtedly be supporting Amritpal. The issue is whether the Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal will support him or not.

It will be a Catch-22 situation for the SAD-B. The party has not announced its candidate from Khadoor Sahib so far. 

 

The SAD-B supremo Sukhbir Badal is already under tremendous pressure from the panthic circles to take a “pro-panthic” stand. However, supporting Amritpal will mean moving towards radicalism, which will be a very tough choice to opt for.

 

The Shiromani Akali Dal has never taken a radical or extremist position. Amritpal is known for his extremely radical views, which eventually led to him getting arrested under the National Security Act.

 

Khadoor Sahib constituency has a strong presence of radical supporters. In the 2019 General Elections, Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of human rights activist Khalra got over 2.14 lakh votes, while Bibi Jagir Kaur of the SAD-B got 3.19 votes. Jasbir Singh Dimpa of the Congress won the seat polling 4.59 lakh votes.

 

If Amritpal chooses to contest this time from Khadoor Sahib, it will be very difficult for the SAD-B to field any candidate against him, under the prevailing circumstances. At the same time, the party will be seen to have succumbed to the radical pressure and crossed the line from panthic to radicalism. 

 

Punjab has traditionally never favoured any radical or extremist ideology. SAD-B’s forte is its moderate politics, any deviation, may not be in the long-term interest of the party.