Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, who previously supported Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh during his 2024 election campaign, has been named the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate for the Tarn Taran by-election. Randhawa is a retired government school principal, and her father, Jaswant Singh, is identified as a ‘Dharmi Fauji’.
The by-election will also feature Harmeet Singh Sandhu, a former SAD MLA, contesting on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket. Randhawa’s daughter, Kanchanpreet Kaur, stated that the SAD approached their family, citing their ‘Dharmi Fauji’ background and grassroots support. Kanchanpreet Kaur also claimed that AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu “victimized” many local leaders who had mobilized under her mother’s leadership.
The SAD has emphasized Randhawa’s family connection to a ‘Dharmi Fauji’, a term for individuals, many of whom reportedly quit their jobs. In July 2017, the then SAD-controlled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) passed a resolution to establish a memorial for ‘Dharmi Faujis’, which an SGPC member confirmed has been passed.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/wife-dharmi-fauji-amritpal-2024-lok-sabha-sad-tarn-taran-10297735/