Ajay Gupta gets AAP ticket for Asr Central

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 12

A rebel Congress activist, Dr Ajay Gupta, got ticket of the Aam Adami Party (AAP) for the Amritsar Central seat today. Earlier, the party had announced ticket for the Congress leader, Darbari Lal. He rejoined Congress yesterday. Dr Gupta had joined the AAP one week ago. He claimed that its leadership had assured him ticket.

While addressing a press conference, Dr Gupta claimed that five councillors, including Sanjay Sharma, Parbdial Mahajan, Parmod Babla, Ashok Chaudhary and Depak Thukral, also joined the AAP.

“All APP volunteers, who were opposing party ticket to Darbari Lal are now calm. They are supporting me and I am in strong position,” he claimed.

According to Gupta, drug was the major issue in his constituency and residents of the area were unhappy with both the BJP and the Congress.

“Earlier, they had no choice. Now, APP is the third alternative. I am hopeful that people will elect me as their MLA from the constituency,” he added.

Baba Bakala : Congress ticket for Santokh Singh

Amritsar: Finally, the All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) announced the name of, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, as party candidate from Baba Bakala constituency today. While the group of Jasbir Singh Dimpa in the Congress was cheering after the announcement of party ticket for Bhalaipur, other group led by Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwaddi called an urgent meeting of its supporters today. The party had reportedly delayed the announcement of ticket due to factionalism between Chhajjalwaddi and Dimpa groups.

Workers of the Congress were eagerly waiting announcement of party the ticket as Akali Dal and Aam Adami Party had declared candidates several weeks ago.

Activists of the Congress were upset due to delay as the candidates have only three weeks for campaign.

Earlier, in the 2012 Assembly elections, Congress candidate Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwaddi paid a heavy price of factionalism within the party as he was defeated by the SAD candidate, Manjit Singh Manna Mianwind, by around 29,000 votes.