Election Buzz in Gurdaspur: The 2024 Lok Sabha Contest Heats Up
The Gurdaspur constituency, a pivotal seat in Punjab’s political landscape, is gearing up for the Lok Sabha Election 2024. The polling for this key constituency, which comprises nine Assembly segments: Sujanpur, Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dina Nagar, Qadian, Batala, Fatehgarh Churian, and Dera Baba Nanak, will take place on June 1 and the results will be declared on June 4, 2024, alongside the other 542 parliamentary constituencies of the country.
In previous elections, Gurdaspur was among the few seats in Punjab where the Narendra Modi effect was prominently visible. The BJP’s influence was significantly felt in both the 2014 and 2019 elections.
Actor and sitting MP Sunny Deol, who won the seat in 2019, has been dropped by the ruling party this time around. Deol’s tenure was marred by criticism and complaints from constituents, who accused him of being largely absent and unresponsive to their needs. Posters of Deol’s disappearance have been a common sight, highlighting his lack of presence in the constituency.
This year, the battle for Gurdaspur is intensifying with significant candidates from major parties: Dinesh Singh Babbu (BJP): A seasoned politician and former MLA from Sujanpur, Dinesh Singh also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Born in Pathankot’s Manwal village, Dinesh Singh comes from a prominent Rajput family. He is seen as a strong candidate who can potentially restore the BJP’s credibility in the constituency.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (Congress): A prominent figure in Punjab politics, Randhawa has served as the deputy Chief minister and is a current MLA representing Dera Baba Nanak. He has a rich political legacy, being the son of Santokh Singh, a former Punjab Congress chief. Randhawa’s extensive political experience and deep-rooted connections in the region make him a formidable contender.
Amansher Singh Kalsi (AAP): Representing the Batala Assembly constituency, Kalsi is part of the Aam Aadmi Party, which has seen a significant rise in Punjab politics. The AAP’s sweeping victory in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections, where they won 92 out of 117 seats, has bolstered Kalsi’s position. His fresh perspective and the AAP’s growing influence in the state add a new dimension to the electoral contest.
The Gurdaspur constituency has a storied political history. BJP’s Vinod Khanna was a dominant figure, representing the constituency four times (1998, 1999, 2004, 2014). In contrast, Congress’s Sukhbuns Kaur held the seat five times from 1980 to 1996. In the 2019 elections, actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol won the seat for BJP, defeating Congress’s Sunil Jakhar by a margin of 82,459 votes.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Gurdaspur had 15,95,284 registered voters, including 8,49,761 males, 7,45,479 females, and 44 third-gender voters. The constituency also recorded 22,498 service voters, comprising 22,098 men and 400 women. This marked an increase from the 2014 elections, which saw 15,00,337 voters with a substantial male and female voter base and a smaller number of service voters.
The Gurdaspur constituency is poised for a crucial election as it prepares to select its next representative. With the main political parties fielding strong candidates, the outcome in Gurdaspur will be keenly watched as it could significantly influence the political dynamics in Punjab and beyond.
