Parties put Amritsar Lok Sabha seat on back burner

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 2

Amid campaigning for the Assembly elections, the vacant Amritsar Lok Sabha seat has evoked a “mild” interest from parties.

Having been vacated following the resignation by Capt Amarinder Singh, the bypoll for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat is likely to be held along with the Assembly elections. However, none of the major political parties have declared their candidates.

A former Congress minister said the party’s earlier Lok Sabha contestant OP Soni and MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sukhsarkaria had declined to contest the Lok Sabha bypoll, as both preferred to contest the Assembly seat.

AAP too is silent over its plans for the Lok Sabha seat. The party’s Majha spokesperson, Gurbhej Singh, said, “We are yet to spare a thought on fielding candidates for the bypoll as our priority is to finalise candidates for Amritsar’s East, North and Central constituencies,” he said.

There are also reports that newly inducted Sikh face Jaswinder Singh Advocate might be asked to contest the seat. Insiders say that AAP’s candidate for Majitha Himmat Singh Shergill too could be asked to contest the Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll, along with the Assembly seat.

From the BJP, prominent leaders could be Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, Kamal Sharma and Tarun Chugh. Chhina who is a popular local face and an arch rival of Sidhu has been making trips to Delhi. Chhina confirmed that he had met some senior leaders of the party and added that he was ready for the fight. He is also a confidant of Arun Jaitley who will have the final say in deciding the ticket.