YAD list further strengthens familial domination

JALANDHAR: The long list of top office bearers of Youth Akali Dal (YAD) of 204 vice presidents and general secretaries is packed with several 'heavy-weight surnames', or their progeny, to be precise. Those who introduced these surnames in the Punjab politics, are today part of the state cabinet, SAD legislative or other such prominent positions.
Ranike, Bhunder, Kahlon, Garcha, Langah, Sekhwan, Gabria, Chandumajra, Ghunas, Phillaur, Dhillon, Makkar, Kanjhla- there are no prizes for guessing whose sons have made it as YAD office bearers. The list is of 33 senior vice presidents, 103 vice presidents and 68 general secretaries announced by YAD president Bikram Majithia also indicates who are likely to get the one-third share of assembly tickets which the YAD has been asking for in the coming assembly elections.
Former minister Tota Singh's son Makhan Brar, speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon's son Ravi Kiran Kahlon - who is preparing to contest from Dera Baba Nanak-MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder's son Dilraj Bhunder, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's nephew Sukhman Sidhu (son of Badal's brother-in-law Amarjit Sidhu, former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha's nephew Harpreet Garcha, former minister Sikandar Singh Malooka's son Gurpreet Malooka, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur's son-in-law Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh, PAC member Sampooran Singh Cheema's son Gurpreet Cheema, are among the senior vice presidents.
MP Ratan Singh Ajnala's MLA son Amarpal Boni, MLA Inderbir Bularia who got the ticket for by-election after his father and MLA Raminder Bularia's death, late Captain Kanwaljit Singh's son Jasjit Bunny and former Lok Sabha deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal's former MLA son Inder Iqbal, are also among the senior vice presidents. These young leaders got party tickets by virtue of being kin of established politicians.
Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike's son Gurinder Pal Singh Ranike (who has also been given SGPC ticket), Sucha Singh Langah's son Sukhjinder Langah, Sewa Singh Sekhwan's son Jagroop Sekhwan, chief parliamentary secretary Mohinder Kaur Josh's son Karamjit 'Babloo Josh', CPS Sarwan Singh Phillaur's son Damanvir, minister Hira Singh Gabria's son Rakhwinder Gabria, former YAD president and MP Amrik Singh Aliwal's son Yadwinder Aliwal, SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra's son Harinderpal, former minister G S Kanjhla's son Amandeep Kanjhla, former minister Harmel Singh Tohra's son Harinderpal Singh Tohra, SGPC president A S Makkar's son Maninder Makkar, former SGPC acting president Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke's son Bikramjit Pakhoke, are among general secretaries.
MLA Balbir Singh Ghunas' son Hardeep, former MLA Hari Singh Zira's son Avtar and former SAD president Jagdev Singh Talwandi's son Jagjit Singh, are among the YAD advisors.
Simarjeet Singh Bains, prime accused in attack on then Ludhiana tehsildar H S Benipal, has been appointed district president of Ludhiana.