Electing SAD candidate from Jalandhar will be homage to Parkash: Sukhbir

A victory for Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi in the Lok Sabha bypoll in Jalandhar will be a true homage to Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Sunday.

A five-time former chief minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal died on April 25. He had not been keeping well and was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali on April 16.

Sukhbir Singh Badal was addressing a public meeting for party candidate Sukhi, who has received backing from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in Goraya. This was the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief's first public address for the bypoll since his father's death.

"I want to request the (SAD and BSP) workers that, by ensuring victory (for Sukhi) in this battle (bypoll), it will be a true tribute to our leader Sardar Parkash Singh Badal," he said.

The SAD workers will then ensure victory for the BSP candidate from the Banga seat, he further said.

Sukhi, who is currently the MLA from the Banga assembly constituency, will