Badal's clan gets lion's share in SAD ticket list

Chandigarh, Jan 3 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh Badal's clan has got the lion's share in the list of party tickets given so far for the February 13 state assembly polls.

Besides the SAD chief's and three-time MLA Manpreet Singh Badal and son-in-law and MLA Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Bikramjit Majithia, the brother-in-law of Mr Badal's son Sukhbir Singh Badal, and Jagbir Brar, the first cousin of Manpreet Singh Badal would be trying their luck for the first time.

Mr Majithia will contest from Majitha, while Mr Brar would try his luck from Jalandhar Cantt.

The other relatives of the Badal family among the 62 candidates announced so far include Manjinder Singh Kang from Beas, Janmeja Singh Sekhon from Ferozepur Cantt and Paramjit Singh from Guru Har Sahai.

SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa's son Parminder Singh Dhindsa, SAD patron Jagdev Singh Talwandi's son Kewal Singh, Veteran Akali and Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala's son Gaganjit Singh Barnala, all three sitting MLAs, have also been announced as the party candidates in the first list.

Lok Sabha deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal's son Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal would be defending his Kum Kalan seat, while Lok Sabha member Rattan Singh Ajnala's son Amarpal Singh would be trying his luck for the second time.

UNI