LIKELY CONTENDERS

Vijay Sampla (BJP)

He had started his political career as a sarpanch and went on to become president of the Punjab BJP unit. He rode the Modi wave to get elected to the LS in 2014 and was picked up as a minister for being the only Dalit BJP MP from the state. He is already in poll mode even though the party is yet to take a call on his candidature.

Santosh Chowdhary (Cong)

She is carrying forward her family legacy as both her father and father-in-law were MPs. She won three parliamentary elections; two from Phillaur and one from Hoshiarpur. She has been a minister of state for health in the Manmohan Singh government, chairperson of PPSC and National Commission for Safai Karamcharis.

Som Parkash (BJP)

The Phagwara MLA had contested Hoshiarpur seat in 2009 but lost by nearly 300 votes. He was in the race in 2014 also, but the party preferred to field a new face, Sampla, his bête noir. The former bureaucrat, who also served as Hoshiarpur deputy commissioner, enjoys the support of state BJP chief Shwait Malik.

Raj Kumar (Cong)

He is the sitting MLA from Chabbewal reserved constituency. A qualified radiologist, he runs several scan centres in the region and is among the richest politicians of the state. He does a lot of philanthropy by holding medical camps and keeps in touch with the masses. He is the chairman of Congress’s Scheduled Caste cell.

Ravjot Singh (AAP)

He was among the first five to have been announced as candidate by the AAP. He contested last assembly election from Sham Churasi and lost to the Congress nominee. A medico by profession, he is suave and hard working. But if AAP joins hands with the BSP, he might have to leave the field for the latter.