Tota Singh’s son to contest from Moga

:Agriculture minister Tota Singh’s son Barjinder Singh ‘Makhan’ Brar is among four candidates on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)’s third list for the 2017 assembly polls announced by party president and Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here on Sunday.

Brar, 45, a first-timer, will be contesting the polls from Moga. A law graduate, he also served as the Punjab Health Systems Corporation chairman.

Sitting MLA from Moga and Akali leader Joginder Pal Jain reportedly opted out due to poor health. Tota Singh has already been announced as the party candidate from Dharamkot.

The other candidates who got the Akali ticket on Sunday are Baba Bakala MLA and former chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Manjit Singh Manna, 43, who will be contesting from Sri Hargobindpur, and Malkit Singh ‘AR’, who will be in the fray from Baba Bakala in his place.

Both these seats are reserved, as is Jandiala Guru, from where Dr Dalbir Singh Verka, 64, will be the party candidate in place of Baljit Singh Jalal Usman, who party sources say has been denied the ticket this time. The party has also denied ticket to Sri Hargobindpur MLA Desh Raj Dhugga, said sources.

In the previous polls, both Verka and Malkit Singh were denied candidature, but have been chosen this time for “loyalty to the party”.

In its previous two lists, the SAD announced 78 candidates. With the Sunday’s announcement, the total has touched 82. Of 117 assembly seats in Punjab, the party will contest on 94 seats, the remaining 23 going to its alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The SAD is expected to announce its remaining 12 candidates next week.