Giant-killers steal the show in Punjab
The Hindu
AAP candidates account for at least a dozen Congress and Akali stalwarts
Initially tipped to win Punjab in 2017, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) campaign floundered in the last leg. There were no hiccups this time round as it mopped up 92 of the 117 seats. Underlining this emphatic win were several giant-killing acts that felled former Chief Ministers and star candidates of its rivals.
Jeevan Jyot Kaur essayed what is perhaps the biggest upset of them all. The AAP candidate remained in the shadows as Amritsar (East) turned into a prestige battle between Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu and senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who decided to contest from this constituency after Mr. Sidhu dared him to.
On result day, Ms. Kaur won by securing 39,679 votes and relegated Mr. Sidhu and Mr. Majithia to second and third spot.
Ms. Kaur wasn’t the only ‘David’ defeating rival Goliaths. At least a dozen Congress and Akali stalwarts faced a drubbing at the hands of AAP candidates. Besides incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, three former Chief Ministers faced defeat in the electoral battle — Parkash Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
AAP’s Labh Singh Ugoke defeated Mr. Channi by a margin of 37,558 votes from Bhadaur seat while AAP’s Charanjit Singh defeated him in Chamkaur Sahib by a margin of 7,942 votes. While addressing Punjab voters as early trends hinted at a massive win, party national convener Arvind Kejriwal said: “You know who defeated Charanjit Singh [Channi]? AAP candidate Labh Singh Ugoke who works in a mobile repair shop.”
AAP’s Gurmeet Singh Khudian defeated Mr. Badal, at 94 years the oldest candidate in the fray, from Lambi seat in Muktsar district by a margin of 11,396 votes.
Jagdeep Kamboj accounted for the SAD patron’s son and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Jalalabad seat in Fazilka district, the AAP candidate winning by a margin of 30,930 votes.
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