Punjab: Political parties reel in celebrities for assembly elections, but success depends on vote

BATHINDA: The celebrity factor in Punjab politics reflects in two major parties contesting the February 14 assembly elections in the state — the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress.The state unit presidents of both the parties are celebrities-turned-politicians, comedian Bhagwant Mann in the case of AAP and cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu in the case of Congress.While Mann and Sidhu have earned their political wings, not all celebrities chart a succesful electoral career. AAP has this year fielded singers Anmol Gagan Maan from Kharar and Balkar Sidhu from Rampura Phul assembly constituencies. Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, better known as Sidhu Moosewala, and actor-philanthropist Sonu Sood’s sister Malvika Sood Sachar have joined the Congress and are expected to get the party nomination from Mansa and Moga, respectively. Singer Jassi Jasraj and satirist-actor Gurpreet Ghuggi tried their luck on Aam Aadmi Party tickets in 2014 parliamentary and 2017 assembly elections, but failed to make a mark. Punjabi singer Satwinder Kaur Bitti had tried her luck on the Congress ticket from Sahnewal assembly segment in Ludhiana in 2017 assembly elections, but had lost.