The election process is gaining momentum in Punjab with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announcing its first list of candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections on Friday.The saffron party, after its break-up with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has allied with Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) and SAD (Sanyukat). It has fielded women, farmers, Sikh faces, Dalits, sportspersons and a former IAS officer besides some turncoats.Interestingly, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi and Arvind Khanna have also been given party tickets. The BJP has also accommodated its loyalists in the first list of candidates.While Arvind Khanna, who shifted his loyalty from Congress to BJP, will contest from Sangrur, Rana Sodhi has been fielded from Ferozepur City. Days after joining BJP, Namisha Mehta, who was denied ticket by the Congress party, was named BJP candidate from Garhshankar seat.Polling for the 117 assembly seats will be held in the state on February 20.
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