Cong leader Chaudhary Surinder banks on his legacy, aims to focus on jobs

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

One may assess the political importance of the Kartarpur constituency that right from the government of former Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon in mid-1950s, incumbent MLAs from there remained important ministers. Political standing of the family may be judged from the fact that whosoever defeated Master Gurbanta Singh and Chaudhary Jagjit Singh became a minister in recognition of the fact that he defeated a political heavyweight.

Piara Ram Dhanowalia of the Republican Party defeated Master Gurbanta Singh in 1967 and became a minister in Justice Gurnam Singh’s first non-Congress government. Avinash Chander of the SAD, a political novice at the time, was rewarded with the position of the Chief Parliamentary Secretary by Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, on defeating political stalwart Chaudhary Jagjit Singh. Again, Sarwan Singh, an Akali, defeated Chaudhary Surinder and became a minister in recognition of his success in trouncing a strong opponent.

Having been promised the ticket from Kartarpur by PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh following the death of Chaudhary Jagjit Singh in August 2016, an official announcement for Chaudhary Surinder Singh’s candidature came recently.

So what are the top agendas? “The major focus will be made on providing employment to youth here. We would make strenuous efforts to bring some corporates to further enhance the employment opportunities in the constituency,” said the Dalit leader, who is a fitness freak.

Will he be able to revive the lost glory of the historic furniture market of Kartarpur?

"I don’t think there is a need to do that as a majority of the manufacturers had already shifted to other professions after facing tough competition from the Chinese market. However, we will encourage entrepreneurship efforts in the area,” said the Congress leader.

As Kartarpur had always remained a constituency where a candidate has only won by a mere margin of 500 to 1,000 votes, what impact it will have on the Congress prospects after the arrival of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is reported to have attracted around 10,000 to 15,000 persons from a database of 1.5 lakh voters?

"No, I am hopeful that our traditional vote bank has remained intact and will not be disturbed with the arrival of other political parties in the area. All that which ensure my win is my proud legacy and my will to serve people,” claimed Chaudhary Surinder.