With 23 assembly seats, Doaba is the smallest political
region in Punjab. Nonetheless, in terms of Dalit votes, the region is
significant.
Doaba, which is surrounded by the Sutlej and Beas rivers and
where the irrigation system benefited from the Green Revolution, is noted for
having the most fertile soil.
Scheduled Castes (SCs) account for roughly 32 percent of
Punjab's population, the highest in the country, according to the 2011 census.
Doaba, on the other hand, has the highest proportion of Dalits (37.4 per cent),
followed by Majha (29.3%), and Malwa (31.3%).
It is said that making a Dalit CM would benefit for Congress
Party. But it may not be the case this time. Last time, out of 18 seats, Congress
won 19 seats and it was a clean seat that made Congress won. Congress paved the
way to create power over Punjab through Doaba Dalit votes.
This time, It is seen that Congress is trapped the competition
with the competitor parties. Doaba’s urban seats are having huge impact by BJP
and village seats are in the favor of AAP and Akali-BSP alliance. This is why,
Congress this time may or may not be in the clean seat from the Doaba region. In
the present scenario, it can be seen that, Congress may lose 8-10 seats from
the Doaba region.
Jalandhar
Talking about the nine assembly constituencies of Jalandhar,
till now no clear winner on any seat can be seen. Whether he belongs to the
Dalit community or any other community, still there's no clarity that he will
win the seat with a majority of votes. Out of nine assembly constituencies of
the Jalandhar district, BJP is seen contesting in only 3 assembly
constituencies. In the remaining, the BJP has not yet gained momentum even
after a heavy campaign. In Jalandhar, BJP is in a fight in North, West,
Central.
Jalandhar North: In Jalandhar North, there's a close
fight between BJP's Krishna Dev Bhandari and Congress MLA Bawa Henry. The other
two main candidates who are contesting this seat are Kuldeep Singh Lubana of
Akali Dal-BSP candidate and Dinesh Dhal of Aam Aadmi Party. AAP candidate
Dinesh Dhal was earlier with the Congress, now stands against it. The BSP
candidate Lubana has drawn the SP category to his side. All these are adding to
the troubles of Congress. BJP is directly benefiting from this. For this
reason, BJP has now reached the competition of Congress.
Jalandhar Central: Jalandhar Central competition lies
between Rajinder Berry of the Congress and Manoranjan Kalia of the BJP in the
Central seat. Manoranjan Kalia is known for his honesty, on the other hand,
Rajinder Berry is known for his work which has been done by him previously.
Akali Dal's Chandan Grewal may take away the votes of the employees of the
corporation, but the Akali Dal cadre will not give them full votes. AAP
candidate Raman Arora is working hard but has become controversial over his
remarks on women. However, the candidates of Congress, BJP, Akali Dal, and Aam
Aadmi Party are working hard for victory.
Jalandhar West: Jalandhar West seat is reserved for
Scheduled Category. Looking at the atmosphere, Sushil Rinku of Congress is in
direct competition with Mohinder Bhagat of BJP. People are angry with the AAP
party giving tickets to Sheetal Angural instead of Dr. Mali. Now, BJP's vote is
divided between Mohinder Bhagat and Angural. Those who work hard in the
remaining time will be able to be on the seat. On the other hand, whose vote
will be broken by AAP's candidate Sheetal Angural, will be weakened in the
race.
Shahkot: There is a close contest between Congress
candidate Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia and Akali Dal's Taksali Akali Bachitar
Singh Kohar. BJP does not have any special base of its own in the region. A
little bit of BJP votes went to the Akali Dal during the alliance. Aam Aadmi
Party does not have any cadre of its own here. Congress candidate Ladi
Shorowalia has been an MLA in the by-election. The Kohad family has a
substantial support base. The area has been a stronghold of the Akali Dal. The
Aam Aadmi Party has changed its candidate and is losing its ticket to the
former sarpanch and NRI Ratan Singh. In such a situation, whose vote will be
broken and who will win is still a question.
Jalandhar Cantt: In the Jalandhar Cantt seat,
Congress's Education Minister Pargat Singh is against Aam Aadmi Party's
candidate Surinder Singh Sodhi. Both have been Olympians of hockey. BJP's
candidate is former MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar, who left Akali Dal and joined
BJP. In such a situation, BJP is not supporting him. There's is an edge for
Pargat Singh and it seems that it will be beneficial for Pargat Singh even
Sarabjit Singh Makkar breaks votes.
Kartarpur: Former Aam Aadmi Party candidate Balkar
Singh is pitted against BSP's Balwinder Singh. On one side there are
journalists and on the other side, there are police officers in the
competition. The fight between BJP's candidate Surinder Mahe and Congress's MLA
Surinder Chaudhary has become private. Surendra Chaudhary is working hard to
persuade people. The interests of SC voters will decide the winner.
Adampur: In Adampur, there is a competition between
Akali's outgoing MLA Pawan Tinu and Congress's candidate Sukhwinder Singh Kotli
in Adampur's seat on Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Both are former BSP leaders. Dera
Sachkhand Ballan will change this competition into victory. On which side Dera
Sachkhand Ballan will have an eye, there will be victory. This time the Chief
Minister of the state Charanjit Singh Channi has taken a personal interest in
increasing the problems of Pawan Tinu. It is believed that the competition here
is not between Kotli, but Charanjit Singh Channi and Pawan Kumar Tinu. Now eyes
are on Dera Sachkhand Ballan for victory.
Phillaur: The Phillaur assembly seat is contested
between Vikramjit Singh, son of Congress's MP Chaudhary Santosh Singh, and
Akali Dal's candidate Baldev Singh Khaira. Baldev Singh of Akali Dal is getting
the benefit of being friendly. AAP's Prem Singh remains a favorite for his
social service work and to be among the people during the service period.
Sarwan Phillaur, a former minister of Samyukta Akali Dal, has distanced himself
from coming under ED's clutches and losing his ministerial post. Now, it
remains to be seen whose side the public extends.
Nakodar: This time Gurpratap Singh Wadala of Akali
Dal will be contesting against Dr. Navjot Dahiya of Congress. Here the
candidate of the Captain's party Shammi Kumar is out of the race for victory,
but the Congress is continuously breaking the votes. At the same time, Aam
Aadmi Party's candidate Inderjit Kaur is also out of the contest, but both
Congress and Akali are making the votes of the candidates in their favor.
Nawanshahr
In Nawanshahr, for the first time in years, Congress is not
in direct domination in the elections. As a result, after canceling the ticket
of the current MLA Angad Singh, the Congress has chosen Satbir Singh Palli
Jhikki as its candidate. Satvir Singh Palli Jhikki of Nawanshahr's 15-year
struggle for a ticket ended when the Congress chose him to replace sitting MLA
Angad Singh Saini.
Dr. Nachhatar Pal of the BSP-Akali coalition is attempting
to profit from Congress's divide. Dr. Nachhatar Pal of the alliance, Lalit
Mohan Ballu of the Aam Aadmi Party, and Azad Angad Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party
are all running for this seat. Lalit Mohan Ballu, Nachhatar Pal, Angad Singh,
and Satbir are also exchanging strong and personal barbs. In the villages,
Lalit Mohan Ballu is supported by the name of Bhagwant Mann, while Satbir Singh
Palli is harming Jhikki to independent Angad Singh.
Big Issues:
1. Stadium
2. Sand smuggling
3. Drunk and
sewerage in the roads
4. Broken roads
5. Street lights
Caste factor:
1. Highest Dalit
Voter (40%)
2. Jatt Sikh
(18%)
3. Saini Voter
(12%)
But the seat was dominated by the Saini society. Angad Singh
(Independent), Satbir Singh (Congress), and Kuldeep (Sanyukt Samaj Morcha), all
three are from Saini society. It also proves that the claims that are given by
the Punjab present CM and Punjab Congress of making a Dalit CM also goes south.
Banga: Dr. SK Sukhi, a SAD BSP candidate and current
MLA, is a strong candidate in this district. Sukhi's image is also evident as a
result of the BSP-SAD alliance. However, Tirlochan Sundh of the Congress and
Kuljeet Sarhal of the AAP have formed a triangular contest.
Big Issues:
The majority of the concerns stem from the state site
itself. Where the Akali BSP is criticizing Congress's work over the last five
years, Congressmen are soliciting votes in the name of CM Channi.
Caste factor:
Banga's seat is reserved due to caste. It has a maximum of
42 percent SC voters, and close to 18 percent Jatt Sikh votes
Balachaur: Sunita Chaudhary of the Akali BSP and
Santosh Kataria of the AAP are vying for the seat now held by Congress MLA
Darshan Lal Mangpur. Kataria is campaigning on behalf of Mann and Kejriwal. After
JP Nadda's rally, the BJP has also entered the race.
Big Issues:
1. Sand mafia
2. Drug trade
The opposition is also trying to surround Congress on this
issue.
While Congress is seeking votes in the name of the opening
of colleges, ITIs, and roads.
Caste factor:
Balachaur is a Gujjar majority seat and has close to 30%
Gujjar votes. Apart from this, SC and Jatt Sikhs are around 22 to 25%. In all
the major parties, only Gujjar candidates have been given tickets.
Hoshiarpur
In Hoshiarpur, the tough fight can be seen in BJP and
Congress. There is tough competition between Sundar Sham Arora vs BJP
ex-minister Tikshan Sood. Tikshan Sood, a seasoned BJP politician from the
district, has been handed the ticket. Sood made headlines last year after a
run-in with farmers during the farmers' uprising. Tikshan has been elected to
the Hoshiarpur Assembly twice. He did, however, lose in 2012 and 2017. The
Congress, on the other side, has nominated cabinet minister Sunder Sham Arora
for the seat.
Garhshankar: Last time, AAP candidate Jai Krishan won
with a margin of 1,650 votes. This time,
AAP, Akali Dali, and BJP have triangular competition. Nimisha Mehta, a Congress
leader who just joined the BJP, has been declared as a candidate for the
Garhshankar seat, despite being denied the ticket. Congress has nominated
Amarpreet Singh Lali to run for the seat of Garhshankar. Because of her,
Congress seems to be out of the contest.
Mukerian: Mukerian has been playing a major role in
the politics of Hoshiarpur. The candidates elected from Mukerian light have
been ministers in the governments from time to time, whether it is the Congress
or the Akali Dal-BJP coalition government.
Jangi Lal Mahajan, is a businessman who has been a member of
the BJP since 1967. (earlier with Jana Sangh). For the past nine years, he has
served as the BJP's district president in Hoshiarpur. He was elected unopposed
as a councilor in 1992 and again in 1998. He is in the fight with Akali Dal
leader Sarabjot Singh Sabi. He began his political career at an early age. He
was the circle president of the Youth Akali Dal at the age of 22. Sabi has been
a prominent opponent of unlawful mining in the Kandi area and is regarded as a
close aide of Sukhbir Badal.
Dasuha: When it comes to Dasuha, the Dogra family
plays a significant role in the Punjab Congress. Or, to put it another way, the
Dasuha has been the Congress's unassailable fort. Arun Dogra Mikki is the
current Congress MLA from Dasuha, and he is running for re-election from the
same seat. MLA Dogra's father, Ramesh Chand Dogra, was a Dasuha community
leader with his own identity.
Chabewal: Fight can be seen in BSP and Congress. The
Thandal family is quite enthusiastic about SAD (B) in Halka Chabbewal. Sohan
Singh is in the fray from the SAD ticket in these elections. MLA Thandal has
held the post of Animal Husbandry and Jail Minister in the Akali-BJP
government.
Sham Chaurasi: Neck-to-neck fight can be seen in
Congress and AAP. Bibi Mahidar Kaur Josh has contested elections from Akali Dal
after her father Arjun Singh Josh. Bibi Josh has contested four times in which
she has been MLA from Halka Sham Chaurasi twice. But this time she is rebelling
against Akali Dal Badal and is in the fray. Or rather say that even though she
is not in the Akali Dal but is still enthusiastic in politics.
Udmud Tanda: Here again, the contest is on between
Congress and AAP. The Udmur Tanda's elected MPs have also served as ministers
in various governments. Surjit Kaur was elected as a Congress candidate and
served as Minister of Education, although her family is no longer interested in
politics. Apart from that, Sangat Singh Giljian, who is the forest minister and
a sitting MLA. Giljian is still a fervent supporter of politics, and this time
he's running for Congress.
Kapurthala
Rana Gurjeet Singh from Congress is in fight. He also had an
unceremonious retirement from the Cabinet in 2017 due to corruption
allegations, but he has since made a successful comeback in the current Channi
government's Cabinet. The three-time MLA, who is popular among the electorate,
has sparked a slew of scandals in the run-up to the 2022 elections. He is in
competition with AAP candidate Manju Rana from Kapurthala, to take on powerful
politicians. Despite the fact that she is from Jalandhar, she was picked as a
Kapurthala candidate due to her service in the area.
Sultanpur Lodhi: Sultanpur Lodhi has become a hot
seat in the upcoming Assembly election, ever since Punjab minister Rana Gurjeet
Singh stated that his son Inder Partap Singh would run against existing MLA and
official candidate Navtej Cheema. The alleged improper usage of hundreds of
thousands of dollars by the state government ahead of the 550th Guru Nanak
Parkash Purb, which is considered a Panthic seat, has also become an issue
here. During these elections, the minister and MLA have traded accusations and
counter-allegations on a regular basis.
Phagwara: Phagwara, located on National Highwa-1, is
a notable NRI-dominated city in Punjab. It is well-connected by train and road,
but it is 40 kilometres from Kapurthala's district headquarters. It is a reserved
constituency with 50 urban wards and 91 villages. It has given equal
opportunities to both the Congress and the BJP. This year's election in
Phagwara features candidates from the SAD-BSP alliance, the BJP, the Congress,
and the AAP. The BJP, on the other hand, has yet to play its cards.
Bholath: Bholath, Nadala, and Begowal are semi-rural
constituencies in the Kapurthala district. For the previous five terms, the
seat has seen a hard battle between Sukhpal Khaira and Jagir Kaur (her
son-in-law last time), with Jagir Kaur winning three times and Khaira two. With
the exception of Jagir Kaur, all of the major candidates this time hail from
the Congress.