Partap Singh Bajwa
Indian politician
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Partap Singh Bajwa is an Indian politician who served as a member of the Lok Sabha representing Gurdaspur in Punjab from 2009 to 2014.[1] Currently, he is a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Punjab and the 18th leader of the opposition in the Punjab assembly since 2022 March.[1]
Aruna Chaudhary (incumbent)
Partap Singh Bajwa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 18th Leader of the Opposition, Punjab Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2022 | |
| Deputy | Raj Kumar Chabbewal (till 2024) Aruna Chaudhary (incumbent) |
| Preceded by | Harpal Singh Cheema |
| Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 10 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Fatehjang Singh Bajwa |
| Constituency | Qadian |
| In office 2002–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Sewa Singh Sekhwan |
| Constituency | Kahnuwan |
| In office 1992–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Johar Singh |
| Succeeded by | Sewa Singh Sekhwan |
| Constituency | Kahnuwan |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 9 April 2016 – 9 April 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ashwani Kumar |
| Succeeded by | Sandeep Pathak |
| Constituency | Punjab, India |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 2009–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Vinod Khanna |
| Succeeded by | Vinod Khanna |
| Constituency | Gurdaspur |
| President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee | |
| In office 2013 - 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Captain Amarinder Singh |
| Succeeded by | Captain Amarinder Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 January 1957 |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Charanjit Kaur Bajwa |
| Source: | |
Early life
He is the son of Satnam Singh Bajwa who was a three-time Member of Legislative Assembly Punjab and Minister in the government of Punjab. He completed his schooling at Punjab Public School, Nabha. He started his career in politics as a student leader in 1976 became President of Youth Congress in 1982 and rose to the President of State Congress. He has served as a minister under chief ministers Beant Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhathal, and Amarinder Singh.
Career
He started his career in politics as a student leader in 1976 from DAV College, Chandigarh, became President of District Youth Congress Gurdaspur then Vice President of Youth Congress in 1980, President of Youth Congress in 1982, and rose to the President of State Congress.
Member of Legislative Assembly
He was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha from Kahnuwan Constituency in 1992, 2002, and 2007. He worked in various different departments under the government of Punjab.
He was Minister of State Information and Public Relations government of Punjab from 1994 to 1995, Cabinet Minister P.W.D B&R, I&PR, Government of Punjab from 1995 to 1996, Cabinet Minister Judiciary, Jails, etc. Government of Punjab from 1996 to 1997, Cabinet Minister P.W.D B&R, School Education, Govt of Punjab from 2002 to 2007.
Member of Parliament
He defeated the actor and four-time sitting MP Vinod Khanna of the Bharatiya Janata Party in general elections and became Member of Parliament in 2009 from Gurdaspur Constituency. He was made the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in March 2013.
Member of Legislative Assembly fourth term
He was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha from Qadian Constituency in 2022. He was appointed the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab assembly. The Aam Aadmi Party gained a strong 79% majority in the sixteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly by winning 92 out of 117 seats in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. MP Bhagwant Mann was sworn in as Chief Minister on 16 March 2022.[2]
Assets and liabilities declared during elections
During the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, he declared Rs. 36,91,19,618 as an overall financial asset and Rs. 1,02,56,481 as financial liability.[3]
Controversy
50 bombs have arrived in Punjab, statement
More recently, Bajwa claimed that 50 bombs had reached Punjab, 18 of which had exploded, and 32 were yet to explode. This raised alarm and controversy.[4] Following this, an FIR (First Information Report) was filed against him for the statement, accusing him of spreading false information and provoking public panic. He was questioned by the police (for about 6 hours) in Mohali in connection with that FIR.[5][6]
Those who used to repair mobile phones are now MLAs
Bajwa, in a public gathering in Jalandhar, took a dig at AAP MLA Labh Singh Ugoke, a Dalit MLA who earlier ran a mobile-repair shop. He said people who used to repair mobile phones are now MLAs. The remark was criticized by AAP leaders as insulting not just to Ugoke but to the Dalit community at large. They said Bajwa’s comment reflected a derogatory attitude toward people from humble, working-class backgrounds.[7][8]
Electoral performance
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INC | Partap Singh Bajwa[9] | 48,679 | 36.55 |  11.28 | |
| SAD | Guriqbal Singh Mahal | 41,505 | 31.16 | 7.70 | |
| AAP | Jagroop Singh Sekhwan [10] | 34,916 | 26.22 |  15.20 | |
| NOTA | None of the above | 777 | 0.58 | 0.15 | |
| Majority | 7,174 | 5.39 | |||
| Turnout | 133,183 | ||||
| Registered electors | 181,907 | [11] | |||
| INC hold | Swing | ||||