Amritsar: Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), headed by jailed MP Amritpal Singh, on Wednesday named Mandeep Singh Sidhu, brother of late actor and farm activist Deep Sidhu, as its candidate from Talwandi Sabo. It also fielded former gangster Lakha Singh Sidhana, who claims to have been pulled into the world of crime before he turned to grassroots activism, from Maur.Tarsem Singh, Amritpal’s father, said the party had announced the two candidates on Wednesday. It has already named 24 persons as halqa in charges for various assembly constituencies.Party chief spokesperson Shamsher Singh Padhri said halqa in charges was the title used for prospective candidates before formal candidature was announced. He said Satwant Singh, son of Kehar Singh, who was convicted and hanged for his role in the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had been named the party’s candidate from Bassi Pathana assembly constituency in Fatehgarh Sahib district.Padhri said Mandeep Singh Sidhu’s candidature was significant given his family’s association with Deep Sidhu, who died in 2022. Deep Sidhu had supported the farmers’ protest on Delhi’s borders and was accused of inciting violence during the 2021 Republic Day tractor rally.“With this announcement, Waris Punjab De has taken a step towards further strengthening its political presence in both important assembly constituencies,” Tarsem Singh said, adding that the candidates would raise issues concerning Punjab’s rights, youth and the state’s identity. “Deep Sidhu had raised his voice on issues concerning Punjab, Punjabi identity and Sikh identity. The fielding of his brother as a candidate is being viewed as an attempt by the party to carry forward the same ideological journey,” he said.
