SAD drops Bibi Jagir Kaur, names son-in-law

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday announced Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh (41) as its candidate from Bholath for the upcoming assembly polls, dropping his motherin-law, Bibi Jagir Kaur, a threetime MLA.

Kaur was dropped as she faces conviction for conspiring to murder her daughter and is currently out on bail.

Meanwhile, Hari Singh, the 59-year-old founder and managing director of Preet Tractors, based in Nabha, was announced as Akali candidate from Dhuri. “I want to do some sewa (service) now,” Singh told HT.

Bibi, who also remained SGPC president, belongs to the Lobana Sikh community, which has a large vote bank in the constituency, and heads a dera -- Sant Prem Singh Muralaewaley in Begowal. But SAD decided to drop her and choose her sonin-law, who belongs to the same community.

Bibi was sentenced to jail for five years in 2012, remaining in jail for six months. She is out on bail pending an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana high court. “I am with the party and respect its decision,” she said.

Bibi made a last-ditch effort to contest the elections by seeking a stay on her sentence in the Punjab and Haryana high court. The case is listed for January 10.

Bhupinder is married to Bibi’s younger daughter and has been the chairman of Kapurthala zila parishad for four years. He is also active in the youth Akali Dal. He will face Bibi’s arch rival, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who is contesting as an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate.