October 24 is going to decide whether the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government has passed the litmus test for people’s acceptance of its programs and policies as byelection to four Assembly seats were held today.
Of the four seats, that of Jalalabad and Dakha hold much significance for both the ruling party and the Shiromani Akali Dal. While Jalalabad is considered a strong bastion of the Akali Dal (read Badal family), the bypoll became necessary after Sukhbir Singh Badal got elected to the Lok Sabha from Ferozepur constituency.
In the Assembly elections of 2017, the SAD-BJP combine had bagged two of the four segments and one each was won by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This time, the main contest is between the Congress and the SAD-BJP combine.
While the numbers favoured Congress in the Punjab Assembly elections held in 2017, Jalalabad had gone to the kitty of the Badals. Winning here is a prestige issue for both the Congress and Akali Dal.
Even as the SAD is contesting Jalalabad and Dakha seats, its ally BJP has fielded its candidates in Phagwara and Mukerian and is expecting to ride the popularity wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
By-elections to Dakha are being held as the seat had been vacated by senior advocate and Aam Aadmi Party leader H.S. Phoolka.
On the Dakha seat, the Congress has fielded Sandeep Sandhu, the political secretary of the chief minister against Akali Dal nominee Manpreet Singh Ayali. It is being seen as a keen contest between the Congress and the Akalis.
Amarinder Singh had himself taken out two roadshows to canvass for Sandhu, while the SAD charged the state government with “high-handedness” and “misuse” of official machinery to influence voters in this seat.
For Phagwara (Reserve) seat, the main contest is between Congress candidate and former IAS officer B S Dhaliwal and the BJP’s Rajesh Bagha. The AAP, BSP and the Lok Insaaf Party have also fielded their candidates in this seat.
In the 14 elections held between 1957 and 2017, the Congress has won eight times, while the BJP has emerged victorious on four occasions.
The Phagwara seat fell vacant after sitting MLA Som Parkash was elected to the Lok Sabha from Hoshiarpur.
From Mukerian, the BJP has fielded Jangi Lal Mahajan. The Congress nominee is Indu Bala, the wife of the late Congress MLA Rajnish Kumar Babbi, whose death necessitated the by elections.
Whose Diwali is going to be happy will be known on October 24.
