CHANDIGARH (TIP): The Aam Aadmi Party on August 4 released its first list of candidates for 19 constituencies for Punjab Assembly elections scheduled early next year, nominating senior lawyers H S Phoolka and Himmat Singh Shergill, stealing a march over its rivals Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress.
Besides Phoolka and Shergill, who will contest the polls from Dakha and Mohali respectively, the list includes several office-bearers of the party’s youth wing, including Harjot Singh Bains, one of the founder members of the party in Punjab.
Bains, who heads the youth wing, will conest from Sahnewal. Two former basketball players, Arjuna awardee Sajjan Singh Cheema and Gurdit Singh Sekhon, who also figure in the list, will contest from Sultanpur Lodhi and Faridkot respectively.
The party has given tickets to two former members of Bahujan Samaj Party–Mohan Singh Phalianwala and Santokh Singh Salana. Phalianwala will contest from Ferozepur (Rural) and Salana from Bassi Pathana.
Kultar Singh Sandhwa, a member of the extended family of former President Giani Zail Singh, will contest from Kotkapura.
The first list was announced here by AAP MP Bhagwant Mann who was accompanied by party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh and women’s wing in-charge Baljinder Kaur.
“The party has allotted tickets to its committed workers and youth, who all have a clean image. We will soon release the next list,” Mann said.