This is a battle of prestige between Punjab Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Waring for the Ludhiana LS seat and three-term MP Ravneet Bittu, who joined the BJP about three months ago.
Ludhiana is a stronghold of the Indian National Congress, which has won 11 elections since 1952, including the last three in a row.
While 46-year-old Waring is a thrice elected MLA, 48-year-old Bittu has been elected as an MP thrice — twice from Ludhiana and once from Anandpur Sahib.
Bittu is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, a hero of the anti-terrorism movement who was assassinated in a terrorist attack while in office in 1995.
Now with the BJP, Bittu is banking on Hindu and urban votes and the success of the NDA government. Narendra Modi, who was in Punjab to campaign for the BJP candidate, called Bittu a friend.
Stating that the AAP government is bankrupt and incapable of any development, Bittu has reiterated his promises of opening up Wagah border for border trade with Pakistan, PGIMER, metro to Ludhiana industrial city, connectivity to UK, Europe and North America, setting up of Shaheeds etc.
Kartal Singh Sarabha Airport in Halwara, Ludhiana. Bittu is the only protected candidate of Zplus. Bank is contesting on a combined Congress platform.
Prominent Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Simarjeet Bains and his brother Balwinder Bains (aka the Bains brothers of Ludhiana), who are former lawmakers, recently joined the Congress.
The former is facing rape charges. AAP has fielded MLA Ashok Parashar Pappi while SAD has fielded former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon.
Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, 46 years old
Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, who was the president of the Youth Congress from 2014 to 2018, has been the state assembly member from Giddhar Bagha and Sri Muktsar Sahib for three consecutive terms since 2012. He was the transport minister in the Charanjit Chanired government. He contested the Bathinda LS election against SAD’s Harsimrant Kaur Badal but lost. He has been appointed as the state assembly representative in 2022.
Ravneet Singh Bittu, 48 years old
Ravneet Singh Bittu won the honour twice consecutively in 2009 from Anandpur Sahib and in 2014 and 2019 from Ludhiana.
He served as Congress leader from LS from March 11, 2021 to July 18, 2021. He is the grandson of former CM Beant Singh.
Published: Friday, May 31, 2024 08:57 AM IST
