Conflict in Congress over tickets

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 14

Following resentment expressed by Avtar Henry and Congress workers of the Jalandhar (North) constituency over the change in party’s stance in ticket allotment to Raj Kumar Gupta from Tajinder Bittu, a team of Congress observers led by Kiran Walia held a meeting with senior party leader Avtar Henry.

In a show of strength held in favour of Avtar Henry today, Kiran Walia assured Henry that she would try her best to convince the Congress high command in favour of the Henry family. “Had it been in my hand, I would have announced the ticket now, but it is the party high command that decides the allotment of tickets,” said Kiran Walia while addressing a huge gathering of resented Congress workers of the Jalandhar North constituency.

Avtar Henry wants Congress ticket for his son Bawa Henry. He said he worked for the Congress for the past 40 years and had a clean image during his tenure as an MLA and cabinet minister. Henry said, “I openly challenged the SAD-BJP government to file a corruption case against me, if they found any. They got my vote cancelled when they found nothing against me.”

“I don’t ask ticket for my family members, but it is the love of the people in this constituency which say that Bawa Henry should contest from Jalandhar North on Congress ticket. I go by the sentiments of the people,” he added. A huge gathering of party workers, councillors and former councillors urged a team of Congress observers to grant the ticket to Bawa Henry, otherwise, they would encourage and support him to fight independently.

Leaders turn rebels

After the Congress ticket in the Jalandhar (West) constituency went to Congress councillor Sushil Rinku,

A conflict was observed within the Congress party after the Jalandhar West ticket was given to councilor Sushil Rinku.

Among the rebels, former mayor and Congress leader Surinder Mahey has planned to contest the Assembly elections independently. On the other hand, a rebel group led by Congress leader Raj Kumjar Raju has served an ultimatum to the party high command to cancel the ticket allotment to Sushil Rinku.

In a meeting held at Bhargo Camp, Surinder Mahey had said that he might contest independently. He claimed that the party high command had allotted the ticket to a candidate who had always been an anti-Congress. He alleged that instead of working for the party, Sushil Rinku had worked against the party by constituting a “dynamic group”.

Raj Kumar Raju said that if the ticket would be granted to some senior and devoted Congress leader, only then he would support the party. Raju also accused Rinku of working against the party by making a separate group. He said Congress workers were upset with the high command’s decision to give ticket to Sushil Rinku.