Ticket aspirants boycott Dutti’s candidature

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 14

With the Congress fielding Sunil Dutti from the Amritsar (North) constituency, the party has clearly tried to check opposition from within for its probable candidate from South Navjot Singh Sidhu, but at the same time has agitated the ticket aspirants from north.

One of the aspirants, Karamjit Singh Rintu, who had unsuccessfully contested last elections, has already announced to boycott the candidature of Dutti.

Giving a one day ultimatum to the Congress leadership, supporters of Rintu stated that they might take a big decision if the party did not correct its mistake.

During previous election, Dutti had unsuccessfully contested from the South constituency against Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu. However, with Sidhu already joining the Congress and her husband expected to follow suit, the party is expected to field him from south.

Other aspirant from the constituency, Ashwani Kumar Pappu, has decided not to support Dutti.

Talking to The Tribune, Pappu said his supporters would not support Dutti. Pappu said he would chalk out his next strategy after consultation with his supporters. The three main aspirants from the constituency — Rintu, Pappu and Joginderpal Dhingra — also had a meeting last night to discuss their plans as they felt that an outsider was given the party ticket.

While Captain Amarinder Singh was in the city and most Congress leaders from the city were present in his meeting, but the trio — Rintu, Pappu and Dingra — were conspicuous by their absence.

During the 2012 Assembly elections, the party had first announced the name of Ashwani Kumar Pappu from the constituency. However, his name was dropped few days later and Rintu was announced as party candidate. The political observers in the constituency stated that opposition from within for the official party candidate may prove lethal as probable BJP candidate Anil Joshi was already on a strong foot due to large number of development works completed in the area.