Akali leader who voted for Manmohan government wins on Congress ticket

Chandigarh, May 16 (IANS) An Akali Dal leader who defied his party whip to vote for the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during a confidence motion last July has won the Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab on a Congress ticket.

Sukhdev Singh Libra, who contested the seat on a Congress ticket after leaving the Akali Dal, defeated outgoing Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal by a margin of 34,299 votes.

Both Libra and Atwal were contesting the Fatehgarh Sahib (reserved) seat for the first time after it was created last year following delimitation.

Libra had defied Punjab's ruling Akali Dal whip July last year to cross vote in the confidence motion in Lok Sabha in favour of the Manmohan Singh government.