Brinder Singh Dhillon started from Panjab University student politics, grew through NSUI, and became one of Congress’s recognized youth faces. Congress has already trusted him twice from Rupnagar, 2017 (runner-up) and 2022 (another defeat). Now, as 2027 approaches, the question is, Does Dhillon still have real ground connect in Rupnagar, or has his role shifted more towards media and spokesperson politics? And will the Congress give him a third chance?
Opinion
A) Strong youth connect remains, deserves another chance.
B) Good speaker, but ground support needs rebuilding.
C) Consecutive defeats have weakened his credibility in Rupnagar.
Vijay Inder Singla first rose as MP from Sangrur in 2009, defeating a senior Akali leader by 40,000+ votes, signalling a new Congress wave. But in 2014, he lost the MP seat by 3,51,827 votes, one of Punjab’s biggest margins. He returned as MLA from Sangrur in 2017, yet was defeated again in 2022. So, heading into 2027, does Singla stand as a serious contender in Sangrur, or just a former MP-turned-MLA whose ground connection has weakened over time?
विजय इंदर सिंगला ने 2009 में संगरूर से सांसद बनकर 40,000+ वोटों से अकाली नेता को हराया और कांग्रेस के लिए एक नई लहर पैदा की। लेकिन 2014 में वह 3,51,827 वोटों से लोकसभा सीट हार गए, जो पंजाब की सबसे बड़ी हारों में से एक थी। उन्होंने 2017 में संगरूर से विधायक के रूप में वापसी की, लेकिन 2022 में फिर हार का सामना करना पड़ा। क्या विजय इंदर सिंगला अभी भी संगरूर में एक गंभीर दावेदार हैं, या वह सिर्फ़ पूर्व सांसद-से-पूर्व विधायक हैं, जिनका ज़मीनी जुड़ाव धीरे-धीरे कम हो चुका है?
In 2022, Congress was almost irrelevant in Barnala, their candidate Manish Bansal barely managed 16,853 votes (12.81%), leaving the party looking finished in the constituency. But in the 2024 Barnala by-election, Kuldeep Singh Dhillon (Kala Dhillon) suddenly flipped the script and snatched the seat back from AAP, winning by +2,157 votes. Did Congress rediscover a “Barnala face” in Kuldeep Dhillon, or is he just a convenient stop-gap until the party finds someone “more polished” for 2027?