The latest trends from the Election Commission show that Waris Punjab De Chief Amritpal Singh, who is currently in jail, is leading in the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat, while Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, son of one of the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is ahead in the Faridkot seat. Both Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa are contesting as independents. Amritpal Singh is leading by over 1.72 lakh votes over his nearest rival, Kulbir Singh Zira of the Congress, while Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa is leading by over 70,200 votes over Aam Admi Party’s Karamjit Singh Anmol.
Amritpal Singh was arrested by Punjab police in April last year and was later released on bail. He is known for his association with the Khalistani separatist movement. Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, who is a resident of Mohali near Chandigarh, has promised to raise the issue of punishment for those responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 during the SAD-BJP rule. He has also vowed to address the drug problem in Punjab. The results are significant as both candidates are contesting as independents, and their victories could have implications for the political landscape in Punjab.