Punjab Polls: Farmers' body SSM releases first list of candidates

Ludhiana: The Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a political front launched by various farmer bodies for fighting the February 14 Punjab assembly polls, on Wednesday released its first list of 10 candidates.

The list included the names of farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal as the outfit's candidate for the Samrala assembly seat. Rajewal is leading the SSM.

The list revealed that farmer leader Prem Singh Bhangu will fight from Ghanaur, Harjinder Singh Tanda from Khadoor Sahib, Ravneet Singh Brar from Mohali and Dr Sukhmandeep Singh from Tarn Taran.

Additionally, Rajesh Kumar will fight from Kartarpur, Ajay Kumar from Phillaur, Ramandeep Singh from Jaiton, Balraj Singh from Qadian and Dr Navdeep Singh from Moga, it said.

While ruling out any alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party a few days back, Rajewal had said they would announce their first list of candidates.

Various Punjab farmer bodies which had taken part in the stir against the Union government's now-repealed farm laws had launched their political front last month and announced to contest the state assembly polls.

Meanwhile, as a setback to the SSM, its prominent partner at the year-long farm agitation on the national capital borders, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), announced this week that it would neither contest the Assembly elections nor support the SSM.

However, it clarified that it would not oppose the SSM in any constituency.

Voting for Punjab will be held on February 14 and votes will be counted on March 10.