Neeru Kalsi, wife of Daljit Singh Kalsi, announced this decision. This was after meeting her husband in jail. In a video message, she appealed to the public for their support! She also mentioned plans to hold a press conference soon to provide further details.
Khalistani Background and Context
The Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat became vacant after Congress MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa won the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency. This necessitated a by-election. The announcements by Kalsi and other jailed aides of Amritpal Singh reflect a growing trend among Khalistani activists to participate in the electoral process. They are inspired by the recent victories of Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa in the Lok Sabha elections.
Other Khalistani from Dibrugarh Jail
Bhagwant Singh ‘Pradhan Mantri’ Bajeke and Kulwant Singh Raoke are also lodged in Dibrugarh Jail. They declared their intentions to contest the by-elections from Gidderbaha and Barnala constituencies, respectively. A boy claiming to be Bhagwant Singh Bajeke’s son, Akashdeep Singh, confirmed Bhagwant Singh Bajeke’s candidacy in a video message. Kulwant Singh’s cousin Maha Singh confirmed Kulwant’s desire to contest the elections.
Upcoming By-Elections
The by-elections will take place in five assembly constituencies: Dera Baba Nanak, Gidderbaha, Barnala, Chabbewal, and Jalandhar West. These seats became vacant as their respective MLAs won the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission plans to announce the by-poll schedule within the next six months, following the declaration of vacancies by the Punjab Assembly Speaker.
Legal Challenges of Khalistani
All three candidates will contest the by-elections as independents. However, their candidacies face legal challenges, as the Punjab government has extended the National Security Act (NSA) applied to them for another year, meaning they will remain in jail unless they secure bail.
The entry of Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh Bajeke, and Kulwant Singh Raoke into the by-polls adds a new dimension to the political landscape in Punjab. Their participation underscores the evolving strategies of Khalistani activists and highlights the intersection of political aspirations and legal battles in the region. As the by-elections approach, these developments will influence the political dynamics in Punjab.