Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a 2011-batch IAS promoted from Punjab state services, has taken voluntary retirement ahead of Lok Sabha elections. She is daughter-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sikandar Singh Maluka and is likely to contest elections on BJP ticket.
There is speculation that she may get contest from Bathinda parliamentary seat, currently represented by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Punjab will go to the polls on June 1, in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Who is Parampal Kaur Sidhu?
Parampal Kaur Sidhu, who is posted as managing director of Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation, has been on leave for quite some time. She is due to retire in October this year.
Sidhu has sent her resignation to chief secretary Anurag Verma and it is likely to be approved soon by the chief minister Bhagwant Mann.
According to sources, Parampal Kaur Sidhu’s father-in-law Sikandar Singh Maluka was aspiring for SAD ticket for the elections. He was education minister in Badal government. Since he has attained age of 75, it is unlikely that he can get the ticket this time.
“The age factor will play in BJP also. And then Parampal Kaur Sidhu too will not be able to get SAD ticket. So there are high chances that she contests from BJP, which is contesting alone in Punjab,” source said.
Moreover, Bathinda seat is currently represented by former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, there is no chance that SAD will give ticket to Parampal Kaur Sidhu in her place. And Sidhu will like to cash in on the political legacy of her father-in-law who had contested assembly election form Rampura Phul, an assembly segment of Bathinda.
“Sikandar Singh Maluka had contested elections four times from Rampura Phul assembly constituency since 1997. He had won twice and lost twice. If Sidhu contests from Bathinda, she may gain form Rampura Phul constituency,” sources said.
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