FATEHGARH SAHIB, Punjab—Surfacing unexpected result in Sri Fatehgarh Sahib (reserved) constituency, former Indian ambassador in Norway, and AAP candidate, Sardar Harinder Singh Khalsa has bagged unbelievable victory. He defeated four-time Congress MLA Sadhu Singh Dharamsot by 54,144 votes and SAD-BJP candidate Kulwant Singh came third.
Khalsa received 3,67,293 votes and managed to maintain lead in six Assembly segments – Fatehgarh Sahib, Bassi, Samrala, Payal, Raikot, and Amargarh. The Congress candidate received a lead only from Khanna and Amloh assembly segments whereas the SAD-BJP candidate managed a lead only from the Sahnewal segment. Khalsa got a maximum of 59,482 votes in Raikot, followed by 45,648 votes in Amargarh and 42,213 votes in Payal.
Panthik Sikhs have cheered over Bhai Khalsa’s triumph as he is considered as decent and sincere Sikh leader among Sikh circles. He was first the Sikh working for Indian Government who took a stand in June 1984 to protest against the Indian Army’s attack on Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He was India’s ambassador to Norway and he resigned in protest and despite the later offers by the Indian Government to reinstate him, he declined on Panthik grounds.
After quitting Indian Foreign Service, it was quite difficult for him to meet both ends. He had to sell newspapers as well as clean utensils at restaurants in Norway. His kids suffered because of economic hardships but this simple man, stood by his ideals. Today, he has emerged victorious from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib. He won because of his reputation for honesty and his guts to stand by his ideals.
It is noteworthy that he was founding senior leader of Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) led by Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, and has worked actively for this pro-freedom party for long. Due to some compulsions, he had became inactive as a leader of this party.
It is pertinent to mention that AAP was very reluctant to give him the seat and only declared his name just 3 weeks before the election. However, S. Khalsa contributed a lot to save grace of AAP unexpectedly.
