Hectic lobbying for Ludhiana MP candidate in SAD

Ludhiana: With the Election Commission of India declaring May 19 as the dates for the parliamentary elections in Punjab and senior Akali leaders giving mixed signals about the criteria for choosing the candidates, speculations are rife about the probable candiates from Ludhiana in the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Amid speculations the names of several contenders have already started doing the rounds, though some of the probables are showing reluctance to jump into the fray.Though party insiders claim that the leadership is likely to declare the names of the candidates in a week or so.
Party insiders claim that the names of former MLA Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Manpreet Ayali, Harish Rai Dhandha and Ranjit Dhillon were under consideration. With some of the members of Youth Akali Dal also staking their claim for the ticket, the name of Parminder Singh Brar, a relatively younger candiate has also started doing the rounds. Though playing it safe, most of the probable candiates with the exception of Maheshinder are claiming that they were not keen to elections at the moment.
If supporters of Maheshinder are quite confident that the senior party leader and the law graduate who is resident of Model Town Extension is certain to be chosen as the party candidate from Ludhiana. They also claimed that Grewal who is willing to contest has already started preparations for contesting the elections, though formal declaration of his name is yet to be made. When contacted Grewal said, "The party president Sukhbir Badal has asked me to be ready for the polls so I have started preparations accordingly."
Asked about the issues on which he would campaign in the eventuality of being declared a party candiate, the law graduate said, he would fight elections on issues like affordable health facilities, affordable education for children, drugs and corruption free environment.
His supporters claim that Grewal’s earlier tenures have been devoid of major controversies. The senior leader who has been considered a close loyalist of late Akali leader Gurcharan Singh Tohra, had once resigned from party in 1999 in his support, after Tohra who was removed from party in 1999 following his differences with Parkash Singh Badal. He however came back to the prtyfold in 2003. He remained MLA from Ludhiana west constituency from 1997 till 2002. He also remained political advisor to former CM Parkash Singh Badal.
Another lawyer and former MLA from West Harish Rai Dhandha, who recently created flutters by rejoining the party, amid speculations that the party may consider a Hindu face, too has been playing down the event, while claiming that the development should not be linked with him being seen as a probable candidate. While talking to TOI, Dhandha said, "When elections are around, every small thing is blown out of proportions. Ever since I joined the party again I have been receiving calls from people asking if I was contesting elections. I have not thought on these lines till now, nor any senior leader has discussed this issue with me”
Party insiders said that the names of MLA Sahnewal Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, former MLA Dakha Manpreet Ayali, former MLA East and district president Ranjit Dhillon were also being considered by party president Sukhbir Badal. The leaders on their part however have been showing reluctance to contest. Senior leaders also indicated that with AAP party MLA H S Phoolka having submitted his resignation as an MLA from Dakha, the former MLA Ayali is now eyeing the Dakha assembly constituency once the by polls are held.
When asked about his chances, Sharanjit Dhillon said, "I was asked if I would like to contest but in case I agreed to contest from Ludhiana seat my assembly constituency, which falls in Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituency would be left unattended. Also this would lead to bypolls for Sahnewal seat, ” said Dhillon citing reasons for his refusal.
Former MLA from Dakha constituency Manpreet Ayali too claimed that he was not keen to contest. "After AAP MLA HS Phoolka resigned from Dakha, I am getting ready for bypolls from here. But the Congress party is knowingly delaying the bypolls," he said adding is focus is going to remain on Dakha only.
Former MLA East constituency and district president Ranjit Dhillon too claimed that though he had been encouraged to contest parliamentary polls, but he was not ready at the moment. “I do not want to move outside Punjab and not really willing," he said.