Cheema sounds poll bugle; stakes claim over Akali Dal ticket from Anandpur Sahib Constituency
Bahadurjeet Singh/Anandpur Sahib, February 19, 2024
Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Minister, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema has staked his claim over the party ticket from Anandpur Sahib, constituency for the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Confirming the development Dr Cheema said that he would seek ticket from Anandpur Sahib as he had better claim over the same . However, he said that, it was up to party high command to decide about the same.
Cheema said that he had been working sincerely for the party for the last 30 years and wanted to contest the elections from Ananadpur Sahib.
It may be mentioned that Dr Daljit Singh Cheema had earlier contested the Anandpur Sahib seat in 2009 but lost to Ravneet Singh Bittu of Congress.
However, another senior Akali leader Prem Singh, Chandumajra contested 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the constituency which he won by defeating Congress candidate Ambika Soni. In 2019 Chandumajra lost the election to Congress candidate Manish Tewari.
Chandumajra is also claimant of party ticket from Anandpur Sahib, constituency and has already intensified his activities in the constituency.
Sources close to Cheema said that “Chandumajra and his son had contested the last assembly elections from Patiala district. Therefore he should contest contest from Patiala Lok Sabha constituency.”
Sources maintained that since Cheema remained MLA from Rupnagar assembly constituency and had also contested Lok Sabha elections from Anandpur Sahib Constituency, he should be given party ticket as party workers want him to contest the election.
On the other hand Prem Singh Chandumajra said that he had never demanded any ticket for the elections in any particular constituency and would never do so. This time also wherever the party ask him to contest he would abide by the decision of the party. He said that being in charge of Anandpur Sahib, Lok Sabha constituency, I am working for the party in the constituency.
