The seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections has concluded. As such Punjab saw a voter turnout of 58.33%. Bathinda constituency on the other hand saw a turnout of 67.97% as compared to last year’s 74.11%. This saw an increase in the turnout by/ which is more/less than last year.
Bathinda will bear witness to a 5-way fight between the major political parties. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will be fielding Harsimrat Kaur Badal for the fourth time, hoping to secure another consecutive victory. However, stepping into the ring with their candidate for the first time since 1996 is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with ex-IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is fielding ex-MLA Gurmeet Singh Khuddian while Congress will be fielding Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu. SAD (Amritsar) is also tossing their hat in the ring with gangster-turned-politician Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha Sidhana.
In the 2019 elections, Bathinda saw a voter turnout of 74.11%. Out of these 74.94% of registered male electors cast their votes while 73.17% of females and 45% of transgender electors cast their vote.
In 2019 SAD’s Harsimrat Badal had secured a hat-trick victory beating Congress’ state President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who will be contesting the elections in Ludhiana this year. AAP’s Baljinder Kaur had come third with 11.2% votes with Sukhpal Khaira fourth contesting for Punjab Ekta Party. This year, Khaira is contesting the elections on a Congress ticket.
Harsimrat Badal has secured the seat in Bathinda in 2019, 2014 and 2009. Prior to that, in 2004, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan was the MP for Bathinda, also representing SAD.