BJP Strategy In Amritsar And Gurdaspur: Star Candidates Or Local Leaders?

In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP may consider new strategies to win constituencies of Gurdaspur and Amritsar in Punjab. Assessing party’s previous defeat against Congress opponents in these seats, BJP intends to turn away from contesting ‘outsiders’ into the electoral battles.

Party leaders told The New Indian Express that they are considering options – field a celebrity candidate again or a local one. They stated that the ‘outsiders’ got elected from Amritsar and Gurdaspur failed to give their full attention to the constituencies and address the issues faced by the local population.

“In the past, we have seen many outsiders who were unsuccessful. We want a person who is deep-rooted locally and can find solutions to people’s woes,” The New Indian Express quotes as the BJP leader is saying.

Amritsar

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu once represented Amritsar. In 2014 Lok Sabha election, BJP leader Arun Jaitley was contested from Amritsar but he lost to Congress’ candidate Captain Amarinder Singh. Similarly, in the previous General elections Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has also lost the election from Amritsar, and party leaders analyse that it was due to his ‘outsider’ tag. Even though Hardeep Singh Puri hold commendable accomplishments, the electorate’s call for local representation resulted in his failure, the party leaders observes. Sources claim that since BJP suffered defeat thrice in the elections, they are churning out new possibilities. As per the reports, the possible contenders in the list include former US Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and local BJP leaders Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and Tarun Chugh.

Gurdaspur

In Gurdaspur, aside from BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, the names being floated around include former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and actors Kangana Ranaut and Sunny Deol. Though Sunny Deol currently represent Gurdaspur, he faces criticism for his absence from the constituency. However, the local leaders of the party are not in favour of fielding Kangana Ranaut since her comments against Jat Sikhs during the farmers’ agitation in 2020 has invited wrath, which reflects the possibility to distance significant number of electorates. Leaders has also added that there was anticipation that Yuvaraj Singh might be contested from Gurdaspur after he and his mother recently met Union minister Nitin Gadkari but it may not materialise, it added.

Meanwhile, there are also speculation that Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu might rejoin the BJP and contest in the party ticket from Punjab.