Chandigarh, Apr 7
Former Punjab minister Gulzar Singh Ranike is Shiromani Akali Dal’s candidate from Faridkot, the party announced on Sunday. Ranike is Majhbi Sikh and is currently the president of SAD’s Scheduled Caste wing. Faridkot is a crucial seat for Akali Dal: Burj Jawaharsinghwala, Bargari and Behbal Kalan—the three places that saw incidents of sacrilege in 2015—come under the constituency. Ranike is up against singer Mohd Sadiq—Congress party’s candidate— sitting Member of Parliament Sadhu Singh, AAP’s candidate, and Master Baldev Singh of the Punjabi Ekta Party.Incidentally, Majhibi Sikhs are the dominant caste among Punjab’s Dalit Sikhs. Congress has come under fire from its Dalit leaders for not giving representation to Majhibi Sikhs in ticket distribution.
