PATIALA: When Preneet Kaur contested her last parliamentary election from Patiala in 2014, her vote share slipped from an impressive 50.66% in 2009 to 30.75%. With this, the seat slipped out of the hands of the Congress and fell in the kitty of the Aam Aadmi Party.However, with husband Captain Amarinder Singh in the driver’s seat as the state’s chief minister this time, former minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur is hoping to make a comeback in the constituency which is a Congress stronghold. However, the road ahead appears to be challenging Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi , who was ousted by the AAP soon after he won the seat, is pushing for his candidature as a candidate of the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA), the emerging third front of Punjab which comprises Sukhpal Singh Khaira and his Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), Bains brothers and their Lok Insaf Party (LIP), and the state unit of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He is trying to capitalise on works carried out during his tenure. The Shiromani Akali Dal, on the other hand, is yet to make up its mind on who to field from Patiala, but its leaders are claiming to spring a surprise by fielding a heavyweight against the Patiala royals.Founded in 1973 by Capt Amarinder Singh’s forefather Baba Ala Singh, Patiala was among the first princely states to join India post-independence. It became the capital of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), which were formed by uniting eight princely states between 1948 and 1956. The state, at the time, covered an area of 26,208 sq km, with Shimla, Kasauli, Kandaghat, Dharampur and Chail also a part of the PEPSU. It was at the historical Qila Mubarak that the cabinet of PEPSU used to meet. On November 1, 1956, after the States Reorganisation Act was imposed, PEPSU was merged into Punjab and Patiala became one of the most important districts of Punjab.The Patiala Lok Sabha seat has nine assembly constituencies: Patiala, Patiala Rural, Nabha, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Ghanaur, Sanour, Shutrana and Samana. Seven of these seats have Congress legislators, while Sanour and Dera Bassi have SAD MLAs.It is by and large bereft of any large industry as business growth has eluded this part of the state. Other than traditional goods, small cutting tools, power cables, Vanaspati ghee, agriculture implements including harvester combines and threshers, the constituency does not have much to boast about in the name of industry. Most industrial units are scattered across Rajpura, Dera Bassi and focal points in Patiala and Nabha. The two industrial estates in Rajpura and Patiala have been struggling for revival, but efforts in this direction have not yielded much. It continues to be an educational hub with a large number of universities and colleges offering higher education, but its socio-economic profile has remained the same over the years.Politically, it has remained the stronghold of the Congress with candidates winning the seat 10 times — in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1971, 1980, 1991, 1999, 2004 and 2009. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won this seat four times — in 1977, 1984, 1996 and 1998. The seat voted for ab independent candidate in 1989 and went with the AAP in 2014. Poor civic amenities, hindered industrial growth, villages flooding during monsoon due to an overflowing Ghaggar, exploitation of underground water in several blocks, and lack of job opportunities are the key issues that concern voters in the constituency. Other than Patiala Urban, which has been witness to development, in other assembly segments of the constituency, which are mostly rural, are seeking more funds and development for better roads and other infrastructure, including drinking water facilities and proper drainage systems.As per the 2011 census, Patiala had a population of 1,892,282 which is dominated by Sikhs who form 51% of the total population. Followed by Hindus who are 41% followed by Muslims with 2.11% presence.

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