Dhindsa’s son may contest from Sunam

NEW DELHI, AUG 30: Union Sports Minister Sukhbir Singh Dhindsa's unemployed son is likely to be named as the Shriromani Akali Dal candidat...

NEW DELHI, AUG 30: Union Sports Minister Sukhbir Singh Dhindsa’s unemployed son is likely to be named as the Shriromani Akali Dal candidate from the prestigious Sunam assembly constituency the contest slated for next month.

The Minister himself confirmed the candidature of his son Parminer Singh Dhindsa to newspersons recently. “I am wondering whether to go to Sydney for the Olympics or to stay here for my son’s elections,” Dhindsa said. According to sources, a formal announcement from the party can be expected any time.

The Sunam Assembly seat had fallen vacant following the death of Congress legislator Bhagwan Dass. The Akalis are treating the contest as a prestigious one due to the Assembly elections in the state next year. Sunam is a do-or-die situation for Akalis as its outcome may become a trend-setter for the next year’s elections. Sunam is viewed as an Akali stronghold and they have the distinction of never losing the seat other than once when the party did not contest.

The 26-year-old Parminder Singh Dhindsa holds a degree of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed). He, however, is not employed. Parminder’s entry into politics is likely to spark off another duel between the Akalis and their rival political parties in the state. Earlier when the Chief Minister’s son Sukhbir Singh Badal was contesting the Lok Sabha elections, Opposition parties had launched a campaign against the Akalis for “perpetuating dynastic rule”.