Following Waris Punjab De Chief and Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh's victory in the Lok Sabha elections, his fellow NSA detainees have now declared their intention to run in the elections. Two of Amritpal's aides, Daljit Singh Kalsi and Kulwant Singh Rauke, who are being held in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA), have declared their intention to run for office. Prime Minister Bajeke, another ally, has previously made an announcement regarding this.
Daljit Singh Kalsi:
Daljit Singh Kalsi, a member of the Punjabi film industry and Amritpal Singh's aide, has declared that he will run for election in the seat left empty by Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa's elevation to MP (Dera Baba Nanak). In contrast, Kulwant Singh Rauke wishes to run for the Barnala seat that was left empty when former cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer was elected to the legislature. Daljit Singh Kalsi is a close aide of pro-Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh and had campaigned for Sangrur ex-MP Simranjit Singh Mann.
Kulwant Singh Rauke:
Kulwant Singh Rauke (38), a resident of Rauke Kalan village in Moga district, has worked as a clerk in Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). According to reports, Punjab Police had detained Amritpal Singh and his associates during the action against the members of Waris Punjab De on charges of participating in terrorist activities under the National Security Act (NSA) including Rauke.
Rauke's father Charhat Singh was also detained by the police on 25 March 1993 during the militancy period in Punjab. However, he mysteriously disappeared, rumoured to have been killed in a police encounter. Maha Singh said, “Till date we do not know whether he was killed in a fake encounter or he is still alive. We have no proof of his death. He was taken away by the police and he never returned” His father was also imprisoned under NSA in 1987. He announced his intention to run for the Barnala seat, previously occupied by Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer.
Bhagwant Singh ‘Pradhan Mantri’ Bajeke:
Bhagwant Singh, also known as 'Pradhan Mantri' Bajeke, also declared his intention to run in the elections. He has produced reels criticizing the state government and movies endorsing Amritpal. Since Congress's Punjab head, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, was elected as an MP from Ludhiana, Gidderbaha seat has become vacant. Bajeke emerged as the leading contender for the assembly by-election following Amritpal's triumph in the Lok Sabha seat of Khadoor Sahib. Bhagwant Singh hails from Bajeke village of Moga district. Bajeke was arrested by the police on March 18, 2024. According to the police, he is also an influencer. He also runs a page named Pardhan Mantri Bajeke on Facebook.
While jailed in Dibrugarh, Amritpal Singh campaigned for and won the Khadoor Sahib seat. It was the largest victory margin in Punjab. Amritpal Singh had emerged victorious without the backing of any party, surpassing all national and regional parties. The morale of Amritpal Singh's associates has also lifted following this triumph. This is likely the reason why Amritpal Singh's allies are now wishing to run as independents in the Punjab Assembly one by one.