In a surprising turn of events, Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh preacher, and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, son of one of the assassins of Indira Gandhi, have secured their debut seats in Parliament. Amritpal Singh triumphed in Khadoor Sahib, securing a substantial lead of 1,97,120 votes over his closest rival, Congress candidate Kulbuir Singh Zira. Meanwhile, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa emerged victorious in Faridkot, clinching a win by 70,053 votes over AAP's Karamjit Singh Anmol.
Both candidates contested as Independents. Amritpal Singh, also the chief of the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit, has been incarcerated in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA) for the past year. His father, Tarsem Singh, expressed gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support, attributing the victory to their collective efforts.
Singh's campaign, supported by various segments of society, garnered praise for his initiatives against drug abuse and efforts to promote Sikhism. Despite initial reluctance, Singh's decision to enter politics was influenced by the urging of his supporters.
While some, including Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (Amritsar) leader Simranjit Singh Mann, extended their support to Singh, others, like SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, questioned the authenticity of his political aspirations. Badal raised concerns over Singh's sudden shift from a focus on Sikhism to political leadership.
Singh's arrest last year, along with associates, was preceded by multiple criminal charges, reflecting the controversial nature of his activism. Despite these challenges, Singh's victory in the 'panthic' seat of Khadoor Sahib reflects the diverse voter base comprising Majha, Malwa, and Doaba regions.
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