ASSESSING GURJEET SINGH AUJLA'S PERFORMANCE AS AMRITSAR'S MP

Punjab’s Amritsar Lok Sabha seat holds a distinguished status, often considered a VIP seat. Situated around the Golden Temple, the city is renowned for its significant role in India’s independence struggles, including the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre – the largest of its kind during the Indian independence movement.

Additionally, Amritsar has a unique history, marked by events during the India-Pakistan partition. In the political arena, it is recognized as a high-profile constituency.

Gurjeet Singh Aujla, a member of the Congress party, currently represents the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. The vacancy in 2017 resulted from Captain Amarinder Singh’s resignation. In the subsequent election, Gurjeet Singh Aujla secured a remarkable victory, defeating BJP candidate Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes.

The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri defeating Aujla to reclaim the Amritsar seat. Notably, a disruptive incident occurred in Parliament the previous year, involving individuals who created chaos.

Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla apprehended a person smoking inside the Parliament with a ‘smoke stick.’ Aujla’s political journey has been challenging, with a focus on questioning development issues, particularly those affecting Amritsar. He has successfully established himself as a popular leader in his constituency.

Reflecting on the historical context of the Amritsar seat, the first general elections took place in 1952. Initially dominated by Congress, the electoral landscape underwent a transformation after 1998. The BJP secured its first victory in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections.

The 2004 elections intensified the political scenario, featuring former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu as the BJP candidate, who emerged victorious. However, after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the political dynamics of this seat shifted once again.