Punjab: Shot in arm for Badal as Chandumajra returns to SAD

Badal’s appeal is obviously just the face-saver. In an election, which is inevitably going to be bipolar for all practical purposes—between the ruling Congress and the Opposition Akali-BJP combine—Chandumajra has to align with Badal to make it to the Assembly after a long spell in the wilderness. On the other hand, it makes good strategy for Badal to mop up all anti-Congress votes by roping in all those who shed their animosity towards him. But in the long term, Chandumajra’s induction into the mainstream Akali Dal holds the potential for future trouble given his past criticism of Badal’s alleged efforts to prop up his son Sukhbir Singh Badal as prospective chief minister.

Chandumajra evaded a categorical answer when asked if he would contest the polls. “It would be for the party to decide,” he said.

However, sources in the Akali Dal said he would be fielded against Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from her traditional Lehragaga constituency. Chandumajra’s key associate Baldev Singh Mann would be given the Akali Dal ticket from the Dirba constituency of Sangrur district. Badal had kept both seats vacant when he named candidates for 62 of the 117 constituencies.

Once the president of the Akali youth wing, Chandumajra was a close confidante of the late Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He was elected to the Lok Sabha twice on the Akali ticket from Patiala. In 1998, he defeated present Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Baldev Singh Mann is a protégé of Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala. He lost twice on the Akali ticket, but each time the suspicion stayed that he had lost due to sabotage from within.