JALANDHAR: Jalandhar , the constituency which was represented by very prominent politicians of the country including a Prime Minister and a foreign affairs minister, has remained traditionally a Congress fortress. It was breached four times only when there was very strong sentiment against the Congress and the opposition got united.At the same time, it played a crucial role in saving Shiromani Akali Dal in 2017 assembly polls. When the party was routed across the state and could win just 15 of the total 117 seats, it retained four of the nine assembly segments in Jalandhar. But, after the death of former SAD minister Ajit Singh Kohar, who won from Shahkot in 2017, also a traditional SAD stronghold, this seat was also lost to the Congress in a byelection and now the ruling party holds six assembly segments.Late Swaran Singh, who remained a foreign minister and is remembered for his diplomatic skills, won the seat for four consecutive terms after his first victory in 1957 and then lost in 1977 during strong anti-emergency wave. Later, Inder Kumar Gujral won the seat as Janta Dal candidate in 1989 and became a minister in the V P Singh government. In 1996, Darbara Singh won the seat on SAD ticket and Gujral again won in 1998, when he contested as Prime Minister and won the election and represented it till 1999, when the constituency again went to the Congress. Since then it has remained with the Congress. Gujral’s son Naresh Gujral lost in 2004. Even as the Congress lost assembly elections in 2007 and 2012, it retained the seat in 2009 and 2014 polls.Jalandhar has also remained central to Dalit politics in the state. In 1951, B R Ambedkar addressed a mammoth gathering here.Jalandhar also has largest raw hide market – Buta Mandi - in northern India, after Kanpur. This market is now around a century old. Though it always remained a thriving hub of business but in the last few years the market sentiment went south due to prevailing conditions and controversies due to cow vigilantism.The villages near Jalandhar Cantt have produced several Olympian and international hockey players. Village Sansarpur is known as nursery of hockey in the country. Hub of vernacular media in Punjab, Jalandhar was also epicentre of propaganda against Punjabi language in 1951 and 1961 census, which propounded the idea that mother tongue was related to religion than region and laid the foundation of communal fault lines in politics of Punjab and had lasting negative impact on politics of the state.In the last few years, it has also become the centre for pro-Punjabi movement and annually Punjabi Jagriti March is taken out on International Mother Languages Day on February 21. With participation of groups and people from across communities it seeks to undo the divisive agenda of linking mother tongue with religion. The constituency is represented by Chaudhary Santokh Singh.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ludhiana headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.