Big Bs of women politics in Punjab in the fray for Assembly

Chandigarh, Feb 1 (UNI) The three Big Bs of women candidates to the Assembly elections in Punjab -- Bhattal, Bibi and Bhenji -- are all set to give a run for their money to their male opponents.

Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal will be slugging it out against Prem Singh Chadumajra of the SAD from her traditional Lehra Gagga constituency in Sangrur district. Mrs Bhattal has been winning from the seat for the last three times and is being considered the front runner for the race to Assembly.

Mrs Bhattal, daughter of freedom fighter Hira Singh Bhattal, has been in the thick of political action since 1980, when she first contested an election and won. There was no looking back since for as she moved up the ladder to occupy the number two position in the Cabinet when Beant Singh became the Chief Minister.

After the assassination of Mr Beant Singh, the Congress high command ignored her claims and made former Haryana Governor Harcharan Singh Brar the chief minister. But when elections were round the corner in 1997, she was asked by the party to succeed Mr Brar and lead the Congress in the polls against a rejuvenated and united Akali Dal led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

The 1997 polls were a disaster and the Congress was humbled by the wave in the favour of SAD. When the party returned to power after winning in the 2002 Assembly polls, the Congress made Capt Amarinder Singh, who had joined the party after the 1997 debacle, the chief minister and Bhattal was made his deputy.

MORE UNI