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Alleging that sitting SAD MP of Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency had "let down" the people, Congress candidate from the seat Sunil Jakhar today said he would seek votes on development plank and not on the basis of caste or community.
"I will not go by caste and community combination. I will go to people to seek votes with the agenda of development. People know what they received during last five years and they also see deficiencies. I think people of Ferozepur have been let down during these years," Jakhar said today.
Jakhar will lock horns with sitting MP and SAD candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya.
60-year old Jakhar, who is MLA from Abohar and the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, said the sitting MP from Ferozepur had "failed" to deliver on many counts, including opening of Hussainiwala border with Pakistan, solving waterlogging problem and improving "pathetic" condition of urban areas.
When asked if he had any inclination of getting the ticket, Jakhar candidly admitted that he was not expecting it.
"I was not expecting. The party had already given me a big responsibility (Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly) which was I was trying to fulfill," he said.
Jakhar, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar, said he did not try for a Lok Sabha seat as he felt that others should also get chance to fight elections.
Asked about resentment shown against his candidature by Guru Har Sahai MLA Rana Gurmeet Sodhi who was aspiring for the ticket, Jakhar said he understood his unhappiness, but asserted he (Sahai) would realise why the ticket was given to him.
"I am sure he realises why and how the ticket was given. I can very well understand his unhappiness. But we will work together (to win this seat)," he said.
There were reports that Sodhi had expressed displeasure over the ticket being given to Jakhar.
In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Ghubaya defeated Congress candidate Jagmeet Brar by 21,000 votes.
Ghubaya belongs to the Rai Sikh community which has a sizable population in Ferozepur.
