AAP tsunami sweeps one and all in Malwa belt

Patiala : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tsunami swept the Malwa belt, the biggest and politically influential region of Punjab. The party won 66 seats of the total 69 in the region.

While the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) managed to win only one seat, the Congress score stopped at two. Political heavyweights, including chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, three former CMs --- Captain Amarinder Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal --- former deputy CM and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD (Sanyukt) leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa, had to bite the dust in the AAP wave.

The party won all seats in Rupnagar (3), Fatehgarh Sahib (3), Mohali (3), Patiala (8), Malerkotla (2), Bathinda (6), Mansa (3), Barnala (3), Sangrur (5), Ferozpur (4), Moga(4) and Fardikot (3) districts.

The AAP won three of the four seats in Muktsar. In Ludhiana, it emerged victorious on 13 of the 14 seats. The SAD managed to win Dhaka seat in Ludhiana.

AAP’s prominent winners from the region include, Bhagwant Mann (Dhuri), leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema (Dirba), Aman Arora (Sunam), Narinder Kaur Bharaj (Sangrur), Baljinder Kaur (Talwandi Sabo), Gurmeet Singh Khudian (Lambi) and Kultar Singh Sandhwan (Kotkapura).

AAP’s Dr Charanjit Singh defeated CM Charanjit Singh Channi from Chamakaur Sahib, while Labh Singh Ugoke defeated Channi from Bhadaur seat.

In 2017 elections, Congress had won 40 seats in the Malwa belt.

Cong fails to open account in Patiala

In Patiala, where the Congress won seven of the total eight seats in the 2017, failed to open its account this time. Punjab Lok Congress leader and former CM Captain Amarinder Singh lost from his home turf Patiala to AAP candidate and former mayor Ajitpal Singh Kohli. Kohli had switched to AAP from Akali Dal.

Akali leaders Surjit Singh Rakhra, Prem Singh Chandumajra, NK Sharma, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Tota Singh, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Dilraj Singh Bhundar and Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Daljit Singh Cheema and Jagmeet Brar also lost elections.

In Fatehgarh Sahib district, Congress’ Kaka Randeep Singh, Kuljit Singh Nagra and Bassi Pathana MLA Gurpreet Singh GP lost. Congress minister Razia Sultana also lost from Malerkotla, and SAD (Mann) president Simranjit Singh Mann from Amargarh. Most of the BJP candidates lost their security deposits in the Malwa region.

Manpreet, Kangar bite the dust

In Bathinda district, both sitting Congress heavyweights Manpreet Singh Badal and Gurpreet Singh Kangar faced humiliating defeat from Bathinda Urban and Rampura Phul seats. A five-time MLA Manpreet was defeated by a municipal councillor Jagroop Singh Gill of AAP by more than 73,000 votes.

In Mansa, controversial Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Moosewala, who was fielded by Congress, lost by more than 62,000 votes.

In Fazilka district, the Hindi-speaking belt of Punjab, the BJP failed to make any gain. BJP MLA from Abohar Arun Narang lost whereas former MLA Surjeet Kumar Jyani could not regain the seat. Actor Sonu Sood’s sister Malvika Sood also lost from Moga seat.