Beant’s grandson Bittu wins, AAP’s Phoolka close second
Saturday, 17/05/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140517/punjab.htm#6
Ludhiana : Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu has won from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency with a margin of 19,709 votes. He polled 3,00,459 votes. The thin victory margin is not surprising as the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, comprising nine Assembly constituencies, saw a four-cornered contest.
What has thrown up a surprise is theAAP remarkably good performance in Ludhiana. AAP nominee HS Phoolka finished a close second to Bittu, polling 2,80,750 votes.
For Bittu, the Beant Singh factor worked. The strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the ruling SAD-BJP alliance in the state also went in his favour. Bittu’s campaign focused on the contributions and sacrifice of his grandfather, late Chief Minister Beant Singh. Bittu, a parliamentarian from Anandpur Sahib, was able to forge unity in the faction-ridden district Congress. The intensive elections campaign carried out under the guidance of his maternal aunt Gurkanwal Kaur, paternal uncle Tejparkash Kotli, both senior Congress leaders, also helped scripting his victory.
In Ludhiana, both legislators — Manpreet Ayali (SAD candidate) and Simarjeet Bains (Independent candidate) — had to bite the dust. Bains, however, retained his edge in Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South Assembly seats. He is an MLA from Atam Nagar while his brother Balwinder Bains is an MLA from Ludhiana South.
