Punjab: AAP to fieid ex-SAD leader from Amritsar seat

The by-poll was necessitated following the resignation of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat on November 23 last year

Chandigarh, Jan 15: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday fielded former Akali leader Upkar Singh Sandhu as its candidate for February 4 Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll. Sandhu (63) is a former Amritsar district president of Shiromani Akali Dal.

He is also a former Chairman of Punjab Energy Development Agency, a party release issued said.

Sandhu had resigned from SAD in protest against the sacrilege incidents in the state and alleged failure of the state government in nabbing the culprits behind these incidents.

BJP has fielded Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina while Congress has given ticket to Gurjit Singh Aujla from Amritsar. The by-election to Amritsar Lok Sabha seat will be held on February 4, along with assembly polls in the state.

It was necessitated following the resignation of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat on November 23 last year in protest against the "injustice" meted out to the people of Punjab following the November 10 Supreme Court verdict on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal water-sharing agreement, which he and other state Congress leaders have been opposing.

PTI