Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat: Will BJP be able to win this seat without any celebrity in race? Stay Tuned!

Gurdaspur Punjab Lok Sabha Election 2024 Details: The upcoming election for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha Constituency in Punjab, one of the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, is scheduled for this year. The Election Commission of India announced the final voting schedule and result declaration for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha election on March 16.

Voting date for the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in Gurdaspur Constituency of Punjab

The Gurdaspur Constituency of Punjab has been scheduled for voting on June 1, 2024, as part of Phase 7 of the Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Gurdaspur Constituency Punjab Lok Sabha Election 2024 result date

The results for the Gurdaspur Constituency of Punjab in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election will be declared on June 4, following the counting process.

Candidates Contesting in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election for Gurdaspur Constituency, Punjab

Following the notification of the election schedule, candidates from major political parties and Independents commenced the process of filing their nominations. While some parties had announced their candidate lists beforehand, others unveiled their candidates as the election phases unfolded.

Candidates representing various parties include:

• Shiromani Akali Dal: Daljit Singh Cheema
• Bharatiya Janata Party: Dinesh Babu
• Congress: Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
• Aam Aadmi Party: Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi

Gurdaspur Constituency Punjab Election Results in 2019, 2014

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sunny Deol, a BJP candidate widely recognised as Ajay Singh Deol, clinched victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency. He garnered a total of 558,719 votes, while his closest rival, Sunil Jakhar of the Congress, secured 476,260 votes. This resulted in a significant victory margin of 82,459 votes for Sunny Deol.

In the preceding 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Vinod Khanna of the BJP emerged victorious in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency. He amassed a total of 482,255 votes, whereas, Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress received 346,190 votes. The Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency boasted a total of 1,042,748 registered electors during the 2014 elections.

Who is BJP’s Dinesh Singh ‘Babbu’?

In a recent announcement by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), significant changes have been made regarding certain constituencies in Punjab. Among these alterations, one that has captured considerable attention is the decision regarding the prestigious Gurdaspur seat. Notably, actor Sunny Deol will not be contesting from this constituency. Instead, the BJP has nominated Dinesh Singh Babbu as their candidate for the upcoming elections.

The Gurdaspur constituency has historically been a focal point of political discourse, owing to its significance in Punjab’s political landscape. However, the apparent lack of activity and engagement from the incumbent Member of Parliament, Sunny Deol, has drawn widespread attention. This move by the BJP to replace Deol with Dinesh Singh Babbu underscores a strategic shift in their electoral strategy for Gurdaspur.

Dinesh Singh Babbu’s emergence as the BJP’s candidate for Gurdaspur reflects a calculated decision by the party to rejuvenate their prospects in the constituency. With a notable figure like Sunny Deol stepping aside, Babbu now steps into the spotlight, tasked with representing the BJP’s interests in a constituency known for its political significance.

Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD backs senior vice president Dr Daljit Singh Cheema for Gurdaspur seat

After severing ties with the BJP, the Akali Dal gears up to vie for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat using its iconic party symbol ‘takdi’ or scales, marking the first time since 1996. This move sets the stage for a faceoff with its erstwhile ally, which has historically leveraged star power to secure victory in the constituency.

The alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party was forged in 1996, with the BJP typically contesting from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur as part of the seat-sharing agreement for Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha constituencies.

However, the Akali Dal parted ways with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in 2020 in protest against the now-repealed farm laws. In the upcoming election, the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Akali Dal has placed its bet on Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, the party’s senior vice president and veteran leader, for the Gurdaspur seat.

Cheema expressed the enthusiasm among SAD workers for fielding their candidate and the emotional attachment to the party symbol ‘takdi’. He highlighted the party’s previous contest in 1996, where Jagdish Singh Walia secured the runner-up position for the party.

Responding to BJP’s criticism of being an “outsider,” Cheema emphasised his roots in the region, having been born and educated in Sri Hargobindpur village, where he also contested his first election in 2002. Contrary to its past strategy of fielding Bollywood personalities like Vinod Khanna and Sunny Deol, the BJP has nominated local leader and former MLA Dinesh Singh Babbu for the Gurdaspur seat. Cheema attributed this change to the ‘negativity’ surrounding the BJP, particularly in the wake of its reliance on film actors rather than local candidates.

Historically a Congress stronghold, the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat witnessed a shift in 1998 when the BJP introduced Vinod Khanna, who subsequently won in multiple elections. However, the seat returned to the Congress in 2017 following Khanna’s demise, with Sunil Jakhar winning the bypoll. In 2019, the BJP reclaimed the seat with Sunny Deol emerging victorious.

Congress turns to Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to recapture Gurdaspur from BJP

Former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has been chosen as the Congress candidate for the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency, highlighting the party’s trust in his seasoned political acumen. The 4-time MLA has old contacts in Hindu-dominated seats.

Despite initially expressing reluctance, Randhawa yielded to pressure from senior AICC officials, including Rahul Gandhi, to contest the election. Internal party surveys identified him as an “electable candidate” with the potential to wrest the seat from the BJP.

With a political career spanning four terms as MLA, including representation from Fatehgarh Churian and Dera Baba Nanak, Randhawa’s stature received a significant boost when he was appointed AICC Rajasthan In-charge in December 2022.

Throughout his political journey, Randhawa has evolved from a brash and impulsive leader to a seasoned statesman, earning respect from his cabinet colleagues during his tenure as Deputy CM. His leadership of the Gurdaspur Congress Committee during the inclusion of Pathankot city in the district indicates his established connections in the region.

Known for his association with Capt Amarinder Singh, Randhawa’s differences with the former CM led him to support the leadership change that resulted in Charanjit Singh Channi’s appointment. Despite being considered for the CM position himself, Randhawa accepted Rahul Gandhi’s decision with equanimity, earning praise for his loyalty and compliance with party directives.

Batala MLA Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi chosen for Gurdaspur Constituency election

For the Gurdaspur seat, the AAP has chosen its Batala MLA, Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi, following favourable poll surveys. On the contrary, Kaka Brar, an agriculturist whose sister Gurpreet Kaur Gill was involved in Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, transitioned into politics after serving as a municipal councillor twice. Despite contesting on an AAP ticket in the 2017 Assembly elections, he faced defeat.