Gentleman faces the mighty Majhail

Naushera Panuan, Tarn Taran, Feb 6 (UNI) A gentleman candidate is challenging the mighty 'Majhail' in this predominantly rural constituency.

This will perhaps be the last fight for the battle scarred 'Majhail'---former minister Ranjit Singh Brahmapura, the senior vice president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Mr Brahmapura, who is seeking his third consecutive win from here is being challenged by the soft spoken Dharmir Agnihotri of the Congress, a gentleman medical practioner who is also respected by his rival.

''He is a thorough gentleman, we admire him,'' is the common comment of the voters, including the diehard Akali supports.

Unfortunately Doctor Sahib, as the Congress nominee is called seems to be up against a lot of odds as the voters in this constituency have been traditional Akali voters.

While the Congress candidate is a greenhorn in politics, Mr Brahmapura has fought many an electoral battle and at one point even challenged the 'mighty' Kairon family---Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, son of the all powerful former state chief minister, the late Pratap Singh Kairon. Mr Brahmapura even parted ways with SAD chief Prakash Singh Badal, when the former chief minister got his daughter married to Adesh Pratap Singh, son of Surinder Singh Kairon.

Though 'Majhail' returned to the SAD fold in 1995, but even to this day he has not extended a hand of friendship towards the Kairons. He has never gone to the neighbouring Patti constituency to canvass support for Mr Adesh Pratap who is contesting on the SAD ticket.

Referring to his opponent, Mr Brahmpura admitted that if was not contesting the polls, he would have supported Doctor Sahib.

''Dharmvir has been the village sarpanch and is an excellent man but in the wrong party, '' he adds.

A practising Ayurvedic, physician in Sharon village and having a 20 bed hospital, Mr Agnihotri remained in his village even during the phase of militancy when hordes of families from this area left for safer places. ''I was never threatened or attacked, not even approached for extortion by any militant outfit,'' he claims.

Perhaps, his reputation prompted the Congress to field him from this Jat dominated constituency, which has just about five percent Hindu voters. He is the first ever Hindu candidate fielded by any national party from here.

Another factor that is weighing on the minds of the voters is that if the SAD-BJP come to power, Mr Brahmapura would surely get a Cabinet berth. But if the Congress comes to power and Doctor Sahib wins he will remain a simple MLA and then there would be little or no development in the area.

UNI