CANDIDATES OF SAD, AAP LOSE IN NATIVE VILLAGES TOO

SHAHKOT (JALANDHAR) : In addition to their defeat with huge margins, candidates of both the opposition parties — Naib Singh Kohar of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — have suffered the added embarrassment of losing from their own villages as well.

Naib, whose father Ajit Singh Kohar’s death had necessitated the bypoll, got 441 votes of 997 from Kohar Khurd and Kohar Kalan villages, with Congress’ Ladi Sherowalia getting 515 votes.

AAP’S Kakkar Kalan has received only 130 votes of 670 from his native village, Kakkar Kalan. The Congress and the SAD got 347 and 179 votes, respectively.

From his native village of Shala Nagar, Ladi Sherowalia received 984 votes of 1,259. SAD got 238 votes with AAP polling just 13.

Shahkot had remained an Akali bastion since 1997 with Ajit Singh Kohar winning five times in a row from here.

SAD failed to get even sympathy votes. The Congress was the beneficiary of AAP’S vote share moving to it.

There were controversies too with Naib alleging tampering in electronic voting machines and booth capturing for his defeat. Rattan Singh blamed AAP’S 2017 assembly election candidate Dr Amarjit Singh, who recently joined the SAD.

The Congress win came despite the entire leadership of SAD led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia remaining camped in the constituency for over 10 days to canvass for Naib.

AAP’S RATTAN SINGH GOT 130 OF 670 VOTES FROM HIS VILLAGE, KAKKAR KALAN; CONG AND SAD GOT 347 AND 179 VOTES HERE