Breakaway SAD Supports Mandeep Singh as Tarn Taran By-Poll Heats Up

On 21 Oct Bandi Chhor Divas (Free Prisoners Day), Head Granthi (reciter) of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar Giani Raghbir Singh extended greetings to the Sikh community across India and abroad. He also made a strong appeal to the government to release Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners) who remain behind bars for over 30 years. Meanwhile, the breakaway Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Giani Harpreet Singh has extended support to Mandeep Singh, brother of undertrial Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, in Tarn Taran for the Panjab Legislature Assembly by-poll scheduled for 11 Nov. Most media is misreporting Mandeep Singh as a Akail Dal (Waris Punjab De) candidate. Mandeep Singh has filed his nomination as an independent candidate and is getting a lot of panthic (Sikh collective) support. The by-poll will be Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) bid to gain a foothold, ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) shot at maintaining its dominance and Indian National Congress’ (INC) attempt to put up a united show. AAP is once again banking on fielding a turncoat by fielding a former SAD leader Harmeet Singh Sandhu who won thrice in the past. Since the AAP formed government in Panjab in March 2022, the state has seen Assembly by-polls in Ludhiana West, Jalandhar West, Gidderbaha, Barnala, Chabbewal, and Dera Baba Nanak. Barring Barnala, AAP won all. It also contested Sangrur and Jalandhar Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian Parliament) by-polls in the same period. While its candidate Sushil Kumar Rinku won in Jalandhar; Sangrur seat vacated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann went to the SAD (Amritsar). Not only in Tarn Taran but statewide, the BJP has had setbacks to its attempt to woo the Scheduled Caste votes with the suicide of Dalit (marginalized) Haryana-cadre Indian Police Service officer Puran Kumar and a shoe being thrown at Dalit Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai. The INC launched the campaign of its candidate Karanbir Singh Burj with party leaders warning that divisive forces were trying to push Panjab once again towards an era of death, destruction, and darkness. Panjab Pradesh (state) Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, 'Panjabis are proud Indians and not Khalistani supporters' (earlier coverage).