People's Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Singh, estranged nephew of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday filed his nomination for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat on Congress symbol, drawing criticism from the Akali Dal, which accused him of “electoral fraud.”
Last month, when he announced an alliance with the Congress, Mr. Singh declared that he would contest the Bathinda seat on the “kite” symbol of the PPP. He floated the party after he was expelled from the Akali Dal in the run-up to the 2012 Assembly polls buy the PPP is not recognised as a political party by the Election Commission.
Talking to reporters at Bathinda, Mr. Singh said that sensing the mood of the people and on the directions of the PPP’s 45-member committee, he decided to contest on Congress symbol in a bid avoid confusion among voters. The decision was also the result of “dirty tactics” played by the ruling Akali Dal, which, he said, had made one of his namesakes enter the fray as Independent and seek “kite” as a symbol.
Mr. Singh would challenge the sitting MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is the daughter-in-law of the Chief Minister. Except the CPI(M), all constituents of the Sanjha Morcha (common front) including the CPI and the Akali faction led by the former Tamil Nadu Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, have thrown their weight behind Mr. Manpreet Singh.
Hitting out at him, the Akali Dal, said it was clear from day one that Mr. Manpreet Singh had floated his outfit as part of a “conspiracy” with the Congress. He owed an explanation to the people whether he had merged the PPP with the Congress or not, the Akali Dal said in a statement.
