After a long wait and nail-biting suspense,the SAD(B) announced the candidature of Harsimrat Badal for Bathinda parliamentary seat. The Congress has fielded Raninder Singh,son of former chief minister of Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh,from the seat. The stage is now set for the most coveted battle between the two arch rival political families of Punjab that had been trading charges of vendetta politics against each other for the past two consecutive terms of the state Assembly. Even as the announcement of the candidature of Harsimrat had been made a few days after the Congress declared Raninder as party candidate from Bathinda,both the contestants,who are first-timers,had kept their noses to the grind stone in the constituency. While Harsimrat had been primarily focusing on women through her much-publicised Nanhi Chhan initiative,Raninder,strongly backed by the area MLAs,managed to pull crowd and promised them the moon. They (Badals) cant think beyond the family. That is why they have fielded Harsimrat. Had she not been fielded,it would have been either Sukhbirs mother Surinder Kaur Badal or Parkash Singh Badal himself. The Congress will win the seat, said Raninder,while reacting to the announcement of Harsimrats candidature. The ruling government in Punjab has failed on every front and the people are disillusioned with Akalis and turning to the Congress, Raninder claimed. Harsimrat shot back,How can Raninder say that we cannot think beyond our family when out of the total 13 Congress tickets in Punjab,two have been with Amarinders family members. Listing out her priorities,Harsimrat said she would like to work for the development in all spheres starting from girls basic right to birth,good education,gynaecological facilities,besides other basic amenities. When asked whether she would seek support of dera followers,Harsimrat said,I have a constituency of 12 lakh voters. I will seek support of every voter. .Pays obeisance at Golden TempleAMRITSAR: Harsimrat Badal on Thursday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple along with her husband and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and brother and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia. Harsimrat said she has come to seek blessings before starting her election campaign. She said her family was with her and she would emerge a winner. Meanwhile,on the inflammatory remarks of BJP candidate from Pilibhit,Sukhbir said,Varun Gandhis mother is a Sikh and she has stated that her son could not make derogatory remarks against Sikhs or Muslims.
