Dhuri:Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala's controversial son is facing atough fight in this pre-dominantly rural constituency of Dhuri in Sangrurdistrict of Punjab in a mainly four-cornered contest.

Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Gaganjit Singh Barnala, facing charges of rape,is locked in the tussle with twice MLA Dhanwant Singh (BSP) and first timewoman candidate Mai Roop Kaur of Congress.

Akali rebel Iqbal Singh Jhunda has also added to Barnala's woes in the contestat Dhuri, having 1.37 lakh voters. He lost to Barnala by a close margin ofabout 1,500 votes in 2002 polls throwing Dhanwant to third spot.

Dhanwant, believed to be a close associate of Punjab'sDeputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, has secured the BSP ticket inprotest against the denial of a Congress ticket to him. He had successfullycontested in 1992 on the Congress ticket and again in 1997 as a rebel.

Roop Kaur is unperturbed despite it being her maiden attempt at the hustings.She sees herself as the 'most suitable' candidate for the constituency.

 

 "I am notbothered because of my opponent being from a long-time Akali family."Kaur-- former Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) member, who resigned fromthe post to contest the elections, is fighting hard despite being given ticketby the Congress at a 'later stage'.