CHANDIGARH: Former army chief General JJ Singh (Retd) is in all likelihood to be pitched against Punjab Congress chief and Patiala Royal Captain Amarinder Singh from Patiala (Urban) Assembly constituency by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), as the polls are set to take place on February 4 in Punjab. However, an official announcement in this regard is yet to be made by SAD.
The news gains more significance recalling that Capt Amarinder Singh has not lost an election from the Patiala (urban) constituency since 2002. Presently his wife and former union minister Preneet Kaur is the sitting MLA from the constituency.
The first Sikh chief of army staff, Gen JJ Singh (Retd) had reached Patiala a few days back and has been campaigning for SAD in Patiala since then.
He was invited by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at the inaugural function of the war memorial in Amritsar and also at Heritage Street inauguration besides other events concerning ex-servicemen. Singh has reportedly been in touch with Sukhbir and other leaders for nearly a year now.
Gen JJ Singh told Express, “After serving as army chief and then governor, I wanted to serve the real people and that is why I jumped into politics.’’
When asked that he might be termed a Para-trooper in the polls, he said, “I had lived in Patiala for five years as my father was posted in the army from 1947 to 1952. I was in the city and studied here. Both my paternal and maternal family lived here.’’
“I am ready to take on the challenge and I will win. The candidates who fought elections against Capt Amarinder Singh, earlier, were weak. My track record has no failures,” he said.
“In the next list of the party, I expect to see my name,” he said.
“It’s my payback time to Patiala and Punjab. I want to give back to the people all the love and affection and the spirit of compassion that I have received from them,’’ Singh said.
Singh has been provided a security cover of around 12 armed men along with a security vehicle by the Punjab police in Patiala. Singh had fought the 1965 and 1971 wars, and is said to have donned a pivotal role in the war against Pakistani intruders in Kargil.