Chandigarh: Manpreet Badal likely to contest Gidderbaha bypoll on BJP ticket After overcoming health issues, former five-time MLA and Congress-turned-BJP leader Manpreet Singh Badal is gearing up to contest the upcoming Gidderbaha Assembly bypoll.
The BJP has almost finalized his candidacy, marking his first election as a BJP candidate. Badal has previously represented the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress, and even founded the People’s Party of Punjab.
In another crucial bypoll, the BJP is expected to field Kewal Dhillon, another Congress defector, for the Barnala seat. Both leaders have been actively engaging with party workers and voters in their respective constituencies.
For the Dera Baba Nanak bypoll, sources indicate Ravi Karan Kahlon is a leading candidate, although other names are still being considered.
Meanwhile, the party has yet to decide on a candidate for the Chabbewal bypoll. Despite challenges such as a lack of grassroots support, internal divisions between traditional BJP leaders and former Congress members, and a leadership void, the BJP sees these bypolls as an opportunity to expand its presence in Punjab.
A senior party leader noted that the BJP has been actively recruiting new talent, even during the recent panchayat elections, to groom future leaders. The leadership crisis became apparent in July when state president Sunil Jakhar distanced himself from party activities.
In response, the BJP assigned teams of Assembly poll in-charges and mandal coordinators to handle campaign efforts. Punjab BJP state office secretary Sunil Bhardwaj confirmed that senior leaders have been appointed to manage the four key bypoll campaigns, with Avinash Rai Khanna leading Gidderbaha and Manoranjan Kalia overseeing Barnala.
