Father-son duo in Punjab electoral battle

Chandigarh, Jan 13 (UNI) The father and son duo of Chaudhry Swarana Ram (BJP) and Mohan Lal (SAD), seems to have created a record of sorts---both are in fray for the third consecutive Punjab assembly election.

Chaudhry Swarana Ram, a former minister in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government of 1997 is the BJP candidate from the Phagwara (reserve) constituency for the February 13 polls. His son is the SAD nominee from the Banga (reserve) segment.

The two got together for the first time in 1997 to enter the electoral battlefield from Phagwara and Banga. Both emerged victorious on that occasion, with Chaudhry becoming a minister in the government headed by SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal.

In the last polls in 2002, Chaudhry Swarana Ram again contested on the BJP ticket and lost by a narrow margin to Congress candidate Joginder Singh Mann, nephew of former Bihar Governor Buta Singh.

On the other hand, in 2002, SAD denied the ticket to Mohan Lal, leaving the Banga seat to its electoral ally, Bhaujan Samaj Morhca (BSM). Infuriated at the SAD decision, the junior Chaudhry, joined the BSP and contested from Banga, losing by a narrow margin to the Congress candidate Tirlochan Singh. The BSM nominee Satnam Kainth finished a poor third.

This time SAD has reimposed its faith in the junior Chaudhry, as he seems a potential winner from Banga. The elder Chaudhry is also a strong contender and may again face his old rival Joginder Singh Mann.

The second father-son duo in the electoral battle is senior SAD leader and former minister Capt Kawaljit Singh from Banur and his son Jagjit Singh from Kharar. While for Capt Singh, this will be the fourth assembly election, having contested and won earlier in 1985, 1997 and 2002, it will be Jagjit Singh's maiden entry into politics.

UNI