Experienced leaders make their first effort to enter the Ferozepur seat contest

This parliamentary seat is thought to be a “Akali” stronghold, thus fresh faces from all political parties are probably going to be present this time. SAD has held this seat for the last six years starting in 1998; BSP had previously held this seat twice, in 1992 and 1996. Conversely, the Congress last won this seat in 1985, and since then, it has failed, mostly as a result of internal conflict and leadership rivalry.

There are several rumors that Sukhbir Singh Badal, the head of the SAD and current MP, may not run this time. The names of Vardev Singh Noni Maan, whose father Zora Singh Maan was an MP for three times, and Joginder Singh Jindu, the Dalit face of the party in this region, are making the rounds as potential candidates for the SAD to replace him. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, a senior SAD leader, has not yet shown a desire to run for office.

AAP has a huge list of candidates, including Kamboj community member Shaminder Singh Khinda and the powerful Hindu Arora group, which has over 4.5 lakh people under its belt represented by Karan Gilhotra. Apart from Jagdip Singh Goldy Kamboj and Ranbir Singh Bhullar, two MLAs are also vying for the party nomination: Harpreet Sandhu and Angrej Singh Warwal, who are members of the Rai Sikh clan. Currently, the Hindu Arora group, which has a 32% vote share, produces no AAP MLAs. The next largest communities are the Jatt Sikhs (25), Rai Sikhs (18), Kamboj community (11), and Dalits (14) among others.

Former Congress MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, who was defeated by Sukhbir Singh Badal the last time, is hoping for a second chance. Ghubaya had previously won this seat twice, in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009 and 2014. However, he changed sides to the Congress because of his disagreements with Sukhbir. Kulbir Singh Zira, Parminder Singh Pinki, and former MLA Raminder Singh Awla are all serious candidates for the seat. Both Awla and Kulbir are regarded as the party’s youthful faces and are powerful in their respective home districts.

Surjit Singh Jyani and senior BJP leader Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi are two of the most likely candidates in the saffron party. Since leaving the Congress to join the saffron bandwagon two years ago, Sodhi has been at the forefront of all BJP events.

If Akali and the BJP don’t decide to form an alliance, it’s likely going to be a close-quarters battle between the young Turks. It may not be easy for SAD alone to maintain their winning streak this time around, and Congress will want to break the jinx in addition to AAP, who would want to take advantage of the fact that its MLAs represent eight of the nine assembly constituencies in this seat.

This time, Sukhbir Badal may not run from Ferozepur.

There are several rumors that Sukhbir Singh Badal, the head of the SAD and current MP, may not run this time. The SAD will probably replace him with a fresh face. The names of Kanwardeep Singh Rozi Barkandi from Muktsar, Joginder Singh Jindu, the Dalit face of the party here, and Vardev Singh Noni Maan, whose father Zora Singh Maan served as an MP for three times, are being circulated.

Karan Gilhotra, who represents the powerful Hindu Arora group with over 4.5 lakh votes, and Kamboj community member Shaminder Singh Khinda are likely candidates from the AAP. Alongside them are MLAs Jagdip Singh Goldy Kamboj and Ranbir Singh Bhullar, as well as members of the Rai Sikh community Harpreet Sandhu and Angrej Singh Warwal.

Former MP Sher Singh Ghubaya from the Congress wants to try his luck again after losing to Sukhbir Singh Badal the last time. As a SAD candidate, Ghubaya had previously won this seat twice, in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009 and 2014. Former MLAs Kulbir Zira, Parminder Singh Pinki, and Raminder Singh Awla are also strong candidates for the seat.
Surjit Singh Jyani and senior BJP leader Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi are among the likely candidates in the saffron party. For the last two years, Sodhi has led the BJP in all of its endeavors.