Summary:
Amritsar, Feb 5 (PTI) From Amritsar"s first Mayor to Punjab"s Deputy Chief Minister, Congress’ Om Prakash Soni has come a long way in his political career and is eyeing his sixth term as a legislator.
A keen battle is on the cards from the Amritsar Central constituency, as the 64-year-old Congress leader takes on BJP"s Ram Chawla, who is son of former Minister Baldev Raj Chawla, AAP"s Ajay Gupta, and BSP"s Dalbir Kaur.
While BJP is jointly contesting polls with former chief minister Amarinder Singh led Punjab Lok Congress, BSP is fighting in alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal.
Elected as Amritsar"s first Mayor in 1991, Soni, the MLA from Amritsar Central, had in 2017 polls defeated his nearest rival BJP"s Tarun Chugh.
Soni was first elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1997, then again in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017.
He was twice elected as Independent MLA from Amritsar West seat, but won the same seat for a third time as a Congress nominee in 2007.