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Punjab Votes ’07
2 more Cong MLAs out
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18
Unmindful of the mounting protests by those denied party ticket for the coming Punjab Assembly elections, the All-India Congress Committee overlooked claims of a few more strong contenders, including two sitting MLAs, while finalising a second list of 16 candidates today.

The Congress has also increased the number of women candidates to 10 by naming three more women candidates, Mai Roop Kaur from Dhuri in preference to Mr Dhanwant Singh, former MLA Santosh Kataria from Balachaur and Mrs Surinder Kaur Ballian from Bhadaur.

Mr Bir Devinder Singh and Mr Raj Kumar are now on the list of sitting MLAs who did not get ticket.

Strong dissent witnessed all over the state may have upset the calculations of the party high command which deliberated upon applications for so many days before coming out with the first list of 98 candidates last night. The high command, however, hopes the dissent to die down once the electioneering picks up after filing of nominations.

“Reaction is natural but all cannot be accommodated,” remarked a senior central leader of the party.

Reports from all three belts, Majha, Doab and the Malwa, indicate strong resentment. At places, those rejected are threatening to contest against official candidates. Resentful district level leaders and workers have even threatened to quit the party to put pressure on high command to review the lists.

Though Congress brought in 28 new faces in the first list, party leaders and workers feel it has failed to inspire confidence and enthusiasm in the ruling group.

“Something is amiss somewhere,” remarked a senior leader on the condition of anonymity, adding that “defectors from other parties have been preferred over loyalists. Are not we offering them seats on the platter,” he quipped.

No decision has been taken about Bathinda, the seat held by Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla, and Samana from where the brother of the Chief Minister, Mr Malwinder Singh, is also a candidate.

Kharar from where Mr Bir Devinder Singh was elected last time, the party has decided to give the ticket to Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu this time setting at rest all speculations.

“I am either in run for the Bathinda Assembly seat or the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. If I do not get any of these, I am not contesting any election this time,” is what Mr Surinder Singla reportedly told his confidants.

Though the Congress has tried to appease former MP, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, by offering his brother, Mr Ripjeet Singh Brar, Kot Kapura seat. In Moga, Congress ticket is set to go to Mr Jawahar Pal Jain, a new face, who claims to have a strong backing of the Radhasoamis. Besides, unsuccessful contestants of last elections, Mr Vijay Saathi, former Punjab Health Minister, Mrs Malti Thapar, was also in run for the ticket. Mr Vijay Saathi is a confidant of Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar.

While Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, anticipated rejection of his claim, Ludhiana Rural legislator Malkit Singh Birmi has been favoured for the party ticket.

The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, got the name of Mr Harminder Singh Gill, cleared for Patti seat. Mr Harminder Singh Gill, a former All-India Sikh Students Federation activist, had joined Congress a couple of years ago. Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, an ex-bureaucrat, got it from Nathana.

In Jalandhar, the Improvement Trust President, Mr Tejinder Singh Bittu, also got the clearance, thus overlooking the claim of sitting MLA, Mr Raj Kumar.

As expected, Amritsar West went back to Mr Om Parkash Soni and Phagwara to Mr Joginder Singh Mann. Mr Sher Singh Gagowal has been named candidate from Mansa while in Muktsar, the ticket has gone to Mr Kanwarjit Singh Brar from the famous Brar family of Muktsar.