Badals’ 16

Parminder Singh Dhindsa

Having clinched the Sunam seat in Sangrur by 4654 votes – it was one of the seats which saw very high polling — Dhindsa also benefited from lack of unanimity in Congress factions over choice of Aman Arora. The father-son duo’s networking skills — Parminder is son of MP Sukhdev Dhindsa — proved better than that of Arora and his brother-in-law who had joined ranks this time.

Jathedar Tota Singh

Returns to the cabinet after 10 years and a stint in jail. He was minister in Badal cabinet between 1997 and 2002. Tota was accused of taking bribes for recruitment of teachers as education minister. He was initially unhappy over being denied ticket from Moga where he was willing to avenge his defeat from Congress’ Joginderpal Jain — both share history of criminal cases. But Tota has now reasons to rejoice.

Bikramjit Majithia

The firebrand brother-in-law of deputy CM and younger brother of Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal,Majithia may not have the Congress to credit for his impressive win of 47,581 vote margin. Had the Congress not given the ticket to one from Rahul Gandhi’s youth brigade after ignoring claim of Lalli Majithia,who then turned rebel and bagged the second slot,Majithia’s victory margin would have been narrow.

Adaish Partap Singh Kairon

Son-in-law of the chief minister,Kairon is another SAD MLA who has made it to the Assembly by a threadbare margin.His seat Patti has gone down in Punjab’s political history as one that was won in 2012 by the second narrowest margin of 59 votes.

Bibi Jagir Kaur

Her cabinet berth is more a question of propriety than winning margin. Facing trial in the murder case of her own daughter,Harpreet Kaur,Jagir has had a controversial stint as the only woman president of the SGPC. Though she vanquished firebrand Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira to win Bholath,it was not without bequeathing her voters with large number of blue cards (atta-dal scheme) and other grants.

Ajit Singh Kohar

Another minister with a stint in jail for possessing assets more than his known sources of income,Kohar too starts his second consecutive innings in the cabinet. A silent worker,he managed to move quietly into the much sought after residence of former minister and rebel Manpreet Badal,and became neighbour to the chief minister as well as Leader of Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Won from Shahkot by 5435 votes,thanks to infighting in the Congress.

Surjit Rakhra

He is being feted for humbling the Patiala Royals. Rakhra defeated Raninder Singh,son of Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and Union minister Preneet Kaur.

Sharanjit Singh Dhillon

A new face in Badal’s cabinet,his main claim to fame is his victory over Vikram Bajwa,son-in-law of Congress’ Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. It is one seat the Amarinder camp did not mind losing. After Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and his brother-in-law Bikramjit Majithia,Sharanjit has the highest winning margin of 21,216 votes.

Sikandar Singh Malooka

A confidant of Sukhbir,Malooka is credited for decimating the Congress in Bathinda parliamentary segment. He won from Rampura Phul with a margin 5,136 votes.

Gulzar Singh Ranike

Is among those who return to the Badal cabinet victorious – seven former ministers fell in recent polls. Ranike won Attari reserved seat by 4983 votes defeating Tarsem Singh of the Congress.

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