Chandigarh, March 10: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today announced three more party candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. These are Sadhu Singh, a retired college principal, Bhagwant Mann, TV and film artiste, and Sucha Singh Chhotepur, former MLA.
Earlier, AAP had announced the candidature of HS Phoolka and Dharmvir Gandhi from Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively.
Bhagwant Mann, who has been made party candidate from Sangrur, is a famous comedian and political satirist of the region. A native of Satoj village near Sunam, Bhagwant started his career as a comedian in 1990s.
“I was pursuing B.Com from Government College, Sunam, when stage acts gained popularity. I later quit my studies to pursue a career in this field,” he said.
Most of his works are a satire on the functioning of the government. “While entertaining people I give them a message against corruption and other social evils”, Mann said. He is working in three Punjabi films, of which two are nearing completion. He is playing the lead role in one film.
He founded the Lok Lehar Foundation through which he got hand pumps installed in certain villages facing drinking water problem.
He had joined hands with Manpreet Singh Badal three years ago and was one of the leading members of the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). He recently parted ways with Manpreet after the latter entered into an electoral alliance with the Congress while Mann wanted an alliance with AAP.
In the last assembly elections, he contested against former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and secured 27,000 votes. This time, he is pitched against two sitting MPs — SAD stalwart Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Congress leader Vijay Inder Singla.
Prof Sadhu Singh has been given ticket from the Faridkot constituency. He had taught English at Government Brajindra College in Faridkot for 29 years. He later served as principal of KK Marwaha Girls College for 11 years. An author of two books in Punjabi poetry and a member of the Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Prof Sadhu Singh is associated with APP since its inception.
Born in Manuke Gill village near Bagha Purana, he did MA in English from evening college of Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1970. “While working as draftsman in the Irrigation Department, I joined the evening college for doing Masters in English”, he said.
He remained associated with the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation and was also president of Faridkot unit of the Government College Lecturers Association. Literature and culture continues to be his first love. He has won laurels in this field at various levels.
The third candidate, Sucha Singh Chhotepur has been nominated from Gurdaspur. He was a minister in the Barnala government. He had resigned in protest against the police entry inside the Golden Temple. He graduated from Government College, Gurdaspur. He was elected MLA twice from Dhariwal in 1985 and 2002. Last time, he lost from the Qadian constituency.
He became sarpanch of his village when he was a college student. At 23, he became the youngest chairman of the Dhariwal Block Samiti and the Cooperative Land Mortgage Bank, Gurdaspur.
“For me, politics is not a profession, but a mission. I never hesitate to speak against what is wrong. In college also, I was the student union leader,” said Chhottepur. He also remained a member of the SGPC for about 17 years.
About the candidates
Bhagwant Mann Sangrur
- A native of Satoj village near Sunam, Bhagwant started his career as a comedian and political satirist in 1990s
- He joined the PPP three years ago and contested the last assembly poll against Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. He had secured 27,000 votes
- He recently parted ways with Manpreet after the latter entered into an electoral alliance with the Congress
Sucha S Chhotepur Gurdaspur
- At 23, he became the youngest chairman of the Dhariwal Block Samiti and the Cooperative Land Mortgage Bank, Gurdaspur.
- He was a minister in the Barnala government, but resigned in protest against the Army operation at the Golden Temple
- He was elected MLA twice from Dhariwal in 1985 and 2002. He lost the last assembly election from Qadian
Prof Sadhu Singh Faridkot
- Born in Manuke Gill village near Bagha Purana, he did MA in English from Panjab University in 1970
- Taught English at Government Brajindra College in Faridkot for 29 years and later served as principal of KK Marwaha Girls College for 11 years
- Authored two books in Punjabi poetry and is a member of the Punjabi Lekhak Sabha
Source: TNS