Punjab CM's close aide in fight against SAD's Manpreet from Dakha

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's close aide Sandeep Singh Sandhu is locked in a straight fight with Shiromani Akali Dal (S) candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali from Dakha assembly seat, going to bypolls on October 21. Eleven candidates are in fray from Dakha, but contest here appears to be between Congress high profile candidate Sandhu and S's Ayali. Ayali represented constituency in state assembly from 2012 to 2017. His party is seeking votes on development done during his tenure. Dakha is part of Ludhiana Lok Sabha Constituency, but in last Lok Sabha election, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu of Congress was trailing against Lok Insaaf Party's Simarjeet Singh Bains in this segment.

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Congress, S w tough battle

Ayali won state assembly seat from here in 2012 by a huge margin of 16,388 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jasbir Singh Khangura of Congress. Lok Insaaf party candidate Sukhdev Singh Chak and AAP candidate Amandeep Singh Mohi are also in fray. bypoll is being held due to resignation of AAP MLA Harvinder Singh Phoolka who h secured 46,518 votes in 2017 from constituency. election campaign has reached a feverish pitch with allegations and counter-accusations flaring up. Both Congress and S are leaving stone unturned to attract electorate. S president and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Bal, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Bal and Akali stalwart Bikramjit Singh Majithia have alrey dressed dozens of rallies in favour of Ayali. From Congress, apart from Punjab Presh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar, Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, dozens of ministers and Congress MLAs have t only camped here but are also dressing rallies.

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BJP's absence in campaign

Punjab chief minister also dressed an election rally in favour of Congress' Sandhu. Ayali said that even in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, won by Congress-led UPA, Dakha h favoured S's Gurcharan Singh Galib over Manish Tewari of Congress. Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann h also been seeking votes for AAP candidate, but t even a single state-level leer of Bharatiya Janta Party was seen so far participating in campaign for its alliance partner, Shiromani Akali Dal. Sandhu, who is still battling tag of an outsider, urged people of Dakha to give him also an opportunity to serve m. election battle is becoming fierce day by day. What seemed a cakewalk for Congress at an early st w appears to be an uphill challenge.

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