As BJP fields Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur, Vinod Khanna's wife says 'felt betrayed, weighing all my options'

Gurdaspur seat was represented by Vinod Khanna as a BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha for four times. Khanna had won the seat in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014.

Late BJP MP Vinod Khanna and Kavita Khanna.

CHANDIGARH: After the BJP fielded actor Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, Kavita Khanna, wife of late Union minister and four-time MP Vinod Khanna, has said she felt betrayed and was weighing all her options, including contesting as an Independent. Gurdaspur seat was represented by Khanna as a BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha for four times. Khanna's death in April 2017 had necessitated the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll which was won by Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar. His wife Kavita Khanna was ticket aspirants from Gurdaspur, from where Doel has been fielded. "I feel betrayed. I also feel that the wishes of people who wanted me as their MP were ignored," PTI quoted Kavita as saying. Asked if she would contest as an Independent from the Gurdaspur seat, Kavita said, "I am weighing all my options. I have not decided anything (yet). I have not taken any decision on any issue." She said she and her husband had worked for the people of the Gurdaspur constituency for 20 years. "I have faith in God. Life is a journey. I have worked here for 20 years. When Vinod ji was unwell, I used to meet people of the constituency. People wanted me as their MP," she said. Kavita had been meeting public and party workers in Gurdaspur for the past several weeks. At a rally in Gurdaspur in January this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recalled the efforts of Vinod Khanna for developing the area. "Vinod Khanna made efforts for the progress of this place. He wanted to see modern and prosperous Gurdaspur, we have to realise his dream," PM Modi had said. Kavita was among the frontrunners for the BJP ticket during the 2017 by-poll, but the party chose businessman Salaria over her. Vinod Khanna had won the seat in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014. He was popularly known as "sardar of bridges" for connecting remote villages in his constituency. (With PTI inputs)