The Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) today announced human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra’s wife Paramjit Kaur Khalra and sitting MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi in the first list of seven candidates.
Six political parties, including Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Lok Insaaf Party (LIP), Punjab Manch, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), have decided to fight the Lok Sabha elections under the banner of the Punjab Democratic Alliance.
The alliance arrived at a consensus on 12 LS seats and fielded suspended AAP MP Gandhi from Patiala, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra from Khadoor Sahib, Manwinder Singh Giaspura from Fatehgarh Sahib (SC), AAP MLA Master Baldev Singh from Faridkot (SC), Vikram Singh Sodhi from Anandpur Sahib, former IAS officer Chaudhary Khushi Ram from Hoshiarpur (SC) and Balwinder Kumar from Jalandhar (SC).
Bibi Khalra is wife of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was known for his work on Sikh youth who disappeared in fake encounters in Punjab and he was assassinated by officials of Punjab Police.
Sukhpal Khaira of the Punjabi Ekta Party said, “The alliance has been forged to liberate Punjab from the clutches of corrupt traditional parties of Congress and SAD-BJP that have looted the state turn wise for the past many decades.”
Responding to a query on differences with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), he said it was unfair on their part to announce candidates without consulting the alliance partners.
The leaders reiterated that they stand committed on issue-based, clean and accountable politics and their aim was not only sharing of LS seats, but also to work for the betterment of Punjab. They would continue their struggle for the long-pending demands of Punjab be it river waters, territorial disputes, rightful claim to the capital city of Chandigarh and a true federal system, they added.
Seats divided
BSP: Anandpur Sahib, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur
Punjabi Ekta Party: Bathinda, Faridkot and Khadoor Sahib
Lok Insaaf Party: Ludhiana, Amritsar and Fatehgarh Sahib
Punjab Manch: Patiala
CPI: Ferozepur
RMPI: Gurdaspur
Sangrur is yet to be given to any of alliance partners
