Jailed Khadoor Sahib MP and Sikh hardliner Amritpal Singh’s party Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) on Monday named Satwant Singh, son of Kehar Singh — who was convicted of conspiracy in the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and subsequently hanged to death — as its first candidate for the Punjab assembly polls due early next year.
Key Factors
Satwant, 61, will take his first electoral plunge from the Bassi Pathana constituency in Fatehgarh Sahib district. In 2024 Lok Sabha poll, Khalsa, Beant’s son, won the Faridkot seat as an independent while Amritpal Singh, founder of Akali Dal (WPD), romped home from Khadoor Sahib constituency signalling a resurgence of radical Panthic sentiment in Punjab politics. In the 2024 polls, Satwant had campaigned for Khalsa.
A resident of Mustafabad village in Bassi Pathana, Satwant is a retired bank official. The announcement was made during a joint press conference in Amritsar by Tarsem Singh, WPD acting president and Amritpal’s father, and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa. The party reaffirmed that its campaign for the state elections will remain focused on regional rights, Sikh political prisoners, and representation for prominent Panthic families.
Tarsem said the agenda of the party is not limited to seeking political power, but was focused on Panthic principles, Punjab’s rights and recognising the contribution and dignity of families associated with sacrifices for the community.
