On Monday, BJP leader Swaran Salaria made a significant announcement, declaring his candidacy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Gurdaspur, despite his party having already nominated a candidate for the constituency. Salaria unequivocally ruled out the possibility of running as an Independent candidate, affirming his intent to contest under the banner of a “good party”.
Speaking confidently about his electoral prospects, Salaria assured that clarity regarding his candidacy would emerge by April 13, expressing optimism about being associated with a “good and winning party”. Salaria, who previously contested the 2017 bypoll in Gurdaspur on a BJP ticket following the demise of MP and actor Vinod Khanna, acknowledged his defeat to Congress’ Sunil Jakhar but emphasized his longstanding connection with the constituency.
Asserting strong support from the local populace, Salaria stated, “I have been working in the constituency for the past many years. People in my area are saying that they will ensure my victory,” while projecting a resounding victory margin of over 2.50 lakh votes.
Despite the BJP having nominated former MLA Dinesh Babbu as its official candidate for Gurdaspur, currently represented by BJP’s Sunny Deol, Salaria maintained an amicable stance towards the party’s decision, expressing no resentment. He clarified, “I did not demand the ticket from the BJP. To whomsoever they have given the ticket, good luck to him.”
Notably, the BJP’s decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently in Punjab marks a significant departure from its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal, following the latter’s exit from the NDA in 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws.
Gurdaspur, historically a Congress stronghold, witnessed a shift in dynamics when Vinod Khanna secured victories in 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2014. However, in 2009, Khanna faced defeat against Congress’ Partap Singh Bajwa. The constituency has garnered significant attention, with the late Khanna’s wife, Kavita Khanna, also being an aspirant for the seat.
