3 weeks ago
Amritpal Singh's party fields Indira assassination convict's son
In Punjab, a part of India, people will soon vote to choose their new leaders.
A political party called Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) has picked its very first election candidate.
The candidate is a man named Satwant Singh, whose father, Kehar Singh, was punished long ago for helping to plan the killing of a famous leader named Indira Gandhi.
Some people said the party ignored families like Satwant's, so the party says choosing him proves it cares about them.
Satwant used to work as a bank manager and will run for a seat called Bassi Pathana.
Other relatives of the men involved in that killing also work with the party, including an MP named Sarabjit Singh Khalsa and a board member named Sukhwinder Singh Aghwan.
A Sikh religious leader asked all Sikh political groups to give 30 out of every 100 seats to the families of prisoners and people who gave their lives for the community.
The party's real leader, Amritpal Singh, is in jail far away in Assam, so the party must win votes without him there.
It hopes showing respect to these families will bring it more support in the election.
Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), the party of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, has named Satwant Singh as its first candidate for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Satwant Singh (61), a former bank manager and son of executed Indira Gandhi assassination conspirator Kehar Singh, will contest from Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
Officiating president Tarsem Singh, Amritpal's father, called the pick a direct rebuttal of criticism that the party ignored families with a 'sacrifice background'; outlets differ on whether it was announced Monday or Wednesday.
Relatives of the 1984 assassins hold party posts: Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa (son of Beant Singh) and parliamentary board member Sukhwinder Singh Aghwan (nephew of the assassin Satwant Singh).
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh urged Akali factions to reserve 30% of seats for political prisoners and martyrs' families, while the party recruits figures like Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali to offset its lack of cadre and Amritpal's absence from jail.
- Who
- Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), the outfit of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, named 61-year-old Satwant Singh, son of executed conspirator Kehar Singh, as its first candidate; officiating president Tarsem Singh made the announcement.
- What
- Satwant Singh will contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly election from Bassi Pathana as the party makes a play for Panthic votes by honouring families linked to the 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi; Beant Singh's daughter Amrit Kaur Maloa had earlier expressed interest in the same seat as an Independent.
- Where
- Bassi Pathana assembly constituency in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab.
- When
- Ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, which are due early next year; the articles differ on the day of the announcement (Monday or Wednesday).
- Why
- To rebut criticism that the party ignored families with a 'sacrifice background' and to expand its electoral footprint in a fluid Panthic political landscape where the Shiromani Akali Dal's footprint has shrunk.
Supporters' perspective
Critics' perspective
Honouring 'sacrifice' families
Supporters' perspective
Officiating president Tarsem Singh called Satwant Singh's candidacy a direct rebuttal of claims that the party ignores such families, saying the party's politics is committed to the honour and respect of families who sacrificed for Sikhs.
Critics' perspective
Critics including Mandeep Singh and former police officer Suba Singh accused the party of ignoring 'sacrifice background' families; even board member Sukhwinder Singh Aghwan acknowledged Kehar Singh's family had been 'completely forgotten' until now.
Seat-sharing and reservations
Supporters' perspective
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh urged all Akali factions to unite and reserve 30% of seats for political prisoners and martyrs' families, calling it the greatest need of the hour.
Critics' perspective
Waris Punjab De remains cautious about ceding seats to smaller parties and religious groups that have not proved themselves electorally, even as they demand a considerable share in seat-sharing.
Inducting Akali Dal leaders
Supporters' perspective
The party argues that experienced recruits such as Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali bring vital ground-level election machinery that the outfit currently lacks.
Critics' perspective
The party risks alienating its core base if it brings in unhappy Akali Dal leaders who carry the baggage of having been on the same side as the Badals.
Key facts
- Party
- Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)
- First candidate
- Satwant Singh (61), son of Kehar Singh and a former bank manager
- Constituency
- Bassi Pathana, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab
- Election
- 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, due early next year
- Announcement
- Made by officiating president Tarsem Singh; reported as Monday by one outlet and Wednesday by others
- Party leader
- Amritpal Singh, Khadoor Sahib MP, lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam since 2023 in the Ajnala police station attack case
- Assassin-family members
- Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa (son of Beant Singh); parliamentary board member Sukhwinder Singh Aghwan (nephew of the assassin Satwant Singh); Amrit Kaur Maloa (daughter of Beant Singh) earlier sought the Bassi Pathana seat as an Independent
- Seat-reservation call
- Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, who heads the breakaway SAD (Punar Surjit), urged Akali factions to reserve 30% of seats for political prisoners and martyrs' families
Quotes
Satwant Singh
Candidate and former bank manager
“For a long time, Sarabjit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh Aghwan, and I have been meeting at functions where we are honoured due to the shared background of our families. I had joined the campaign for Sarabjit Singh Khalsa in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Now, both Khalsa and Aghwan have recommended my name for the party ticket.”
indianexpress.com
“The politics of the ADWPD is not limited merely to gaining power, but is committed to advancing panthic principles, Punjab’s rights, and the honour and respect of families who have made sacrifices for Sikhs.”
indianexpress.com
Aghwan
Parliamentary board member of Waris Punjab De
“The highly educated and thoughtful Satwant Singh, the son of martyr Kehar Singh who was completely ignored until today, has been declared the party’s first candidate from Bassi Pathana. Those who call themselves Panthic have never before shown such families this kind of respect, even though these families made huge sacrifices and endured great hardship.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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