Kaka, Kiki, Kuku… nicknames catch Punjab leaders’ fancy

Kaka, Kiki, Kuku… nicknames catch leaders’ fancy 

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 6
Lally, Kaka, Kiki, Kuku, Tikku, Teenu, Nannu... These are not children studying in some village school but the nicknames of Punjab's politicians.

While some of them have preferred these catchy, easy to remember nicknames to get familiar with the public, others got these in a usual manner.

Former Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Jagmeet Brar is 'Lally' to some of his close friends and family members. Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal is called Kakaji by his partymen. He is also addressed as 'Boss' by his friends, especially by the Youth Akali Dal leaders.

Kaka seems to be the most famous nickname among politicians as Nabha MLA Randeep Singh also adds Kaka with his name. Similarly, Congress MLA from Khanna Gurkirat Singh Kotli is known as 'Kaka'.

Former MLA from Faridkot Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon is known as Kiki. Former Muktsar MLA Bhai Harnirpal Singh is mostly called Kuku. Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh's son Raninder Singh is known as Tikku. SAD's candidate from Jalandhar parliamentary constituency Pawan Kumar is known as Teenu. BJP leader from Ferozepur Sukhpal Singh's nickname is Nannu.

Former Chief Minister Beant Singh's grandson and Congress candidate from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency Ravneet Singh is widely known as Bittu.

Akali MLA from Ajnala Amarpal Singh is known as Bony. Former SAD minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh's son Jasjit Singh is known as Bunny.

Chief Minister's younger brother Gurdas Badal is known as Das. A majority of people call him 'Das ji', due to his old age. Capt Amarinder Singh is known as Yuvi in his friend circle.

A senior Congress leader informed that former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's nickname is Rajji.

SAD's Muktsar constituency in charge Kanwarjit Singh is mostly known as Rozy and Gidderbaha constituency in charge Hardeep Singh Dhillon as Dimpy. Sitting Congress MLA from Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh is famous as Raja. Former Kotkapura MLA Ripjit Singh Brar's nick name is Rimpa.

Congress MLA from Ferozepur city Parminder Singh is known as Pinki. Former Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu is known as Pebby.

Sitting SAD MP from Bathinda, ‘Badal Bahu’, Harsimrat Kaur Badal is addressed by her party workers as 'Biba' or 'Bibaji'.

Some more prominent politicians known by their nicknames are Charanjit Singh 'Channi', Simarjeet Bains 'Simar', Manpreet Ayali 'Mani', Sher Singh Ghubaya 'Shera', Harminder Singh 'Jassi', Sukhwinder Singh 'Danny', Jasbir Singh 'Dimpa', Joginder Singh 'Jindu', Anumit Singh Sodhi 'Hira', Barjinder Brar 'Makhan Brar', Bharat Bhushan 'Ashu', Vardev Mann 'Noni', Rajinder 'Deepa', Satwinderjit Singh 'Manta', Jaswinder Singh 'Rocky' and Shiv Lal Doda 'Sholly'.

Some for village names

Some politicians have preferred to add their village's name as their surname. AMong them are Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Barnala, Sikander Singh Maluka, Darshan Singh Kotfatta, Sukhdarshan Singh Marar and many others. Some politicians say they had started adding their villages' names as their surnames so that the prevailing caste system did not mar their political career.

Punjab’s who’s who
Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister: Kakaji and ‘Boss’ (as called by Youth Akali Dal workers)
Amarinder Singh, former Chief Minister and Congress candidate from Amritsar: Yuvi
Jagmeet Brar, former Congress Working Committee member: Lally
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, sitting MP and SAD-BJP candidate from Bathinda: Bibaji
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister and Congress MLA from Lehragaga: Rajji
Raninder Singh, Capt Amarinder Singh's son: Tikku
Randeep Singh, Nabha MLA: Kaka Gurkirat Kotli, Congress MLA from Khanna: Kaka Kushaldeep Dhillon, ex-MLA from Faridkot: Kiki Bhai Harnirpal Singh, former Muktsar MLA: Kuku Pawan Kumar, SAD candidate from Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat: Teenu Ravneet Singh, Congress’ Ludhiana candidate: BittuGurdas Badal, Chief Minister’s brother: Das