Punjab – In a surprising turn of events, jailed pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh won the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday, defeating Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by over 1.5 lakh votes, according to the Election Commission. Singh, who ran as an Independent candidate, is currently the chief of ‘Waris Punjab De’ and is detained in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA).
Amritpal Singh became a prominent figure for his anti-drug campaigns and calls for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan. His outspoken views led to him being labeled as anti-national or even a terrorist by pro-Hindutva media. In April 2023, a massive manhunt for Singh resulted in the arrest of 300 young individuals, many of whom had interacted with him but committed no crimes.
Singh draws inspiration from the late Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed by the Indian Army during Operation Bluestar in 1984, a controversial attack on the Darbar Sahib, the holiest Sikh shrine. Singh’s supporters argue that the wounds from the events of 1984 remain unhealed.
In another significant development, Sarabjeet Singh, the elder son of Beant Singh—one of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassins—is leading in Faridkot. Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, who has unsuccessfully run for elections three times, gained voter sympathy by highlighting the hardships of his youth following his father’s execution.
These election results mark a notable shift in Punjab’s political landscape, reflecting underlying tensions and historical grievances within the Sikh community.
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