BJP, Cong yet to declare names for urban segments in Amritsar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 5

Major parties are yet to announce their candidates from urban constituencies of Amritsar. This is in contrast to the rural constituencies where the parties have announced their candidates well in advance.

As tough contests are expected at urban seats, the think tanks of major parties are being extra-cautious in finalising their candidate.

While AAP declared its candidates for three major constituencies this evening, the SAD-BJP and Congress are still to do so.

AAP’s state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich announced Sarabjot Singh Dhanjal from Amritsar East, Manish Agarwal from Amritsar North and Rajinder Kumar from Amritsar Central.

While SAD-BJP hasn’t open its cards so far, the Congress has announced OP Soni from Amritsar Central and Raj Kumar Verka from Amritsar West, both sitting MLAs. AAP had already announced the candidature of Balwinder Sahota from Amritsar West.

Sources said the Congress and SAD-BJP are waiting for the declaration of each other’s candidates before announcing their own.

For the Congress, it is almost certain that cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu would be the contender from Amritsar East, the home turf of his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu. She has already started campaigning for her husband.

“We are waiting for Sidhu to join the Congress officially. It will probably happen on January 8 or 9. He is our star campaigner and our candidate from the eastern constituency. The party is making arrangements to welcome him to the city,” said Verka.

Sources say that SAD-BJP is finding it tough to find a candidate who could match Sidhu. A similar situation is playing out in the southern constituency where SAD rebel Inderbir Bolaria has switched over to the Congress. AAP had already announced Dr Inderbir Nijjar as its candidate.

At Amritsar North, represented by Cabinet Minister and BJP MLA Anil Joshi, the Congress and SAD-BJP are yet to announce their candidates.

Meanwhile in the rural segment, SAD-BJP has put up Gulzar Singh Ranike against Congress’ Tarsem DC. AAP’s Jaswinder Singh Jahangir is also in the fray.

At Majitha, sitting MLA Bikram Singh Majithia is the SAD-BJP candidate. The Congress has fielded Lalli Majithia and AAP has announced Himmat Singh Shergill’s candidature.

Sitting MLA Amarpal Boni has been given another chance by SAD-BJP from Ajnala. While AAP has announced Rajpreet Singh Sunny Randhwa as its candidate, the Congress hasn’t allotted that ticket so far.

Rajasansi will witness a fight between SAD-BJP’s Vir Singh Lopoke, Congress’ Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria and AAP’s Jagjot Singh.

At Jandiala, the contest is between SAD-BJP’s Dalbir Singh Verka, Congress’ Danny Bandala and AAP’s Harbhajan Singh. In Baba Bakala, Malkit Singh and Dalbir Singh Tong are the candidates of SAD-BJP and the AAP respectively. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate.

SAD-BJP rift: Kamal meets Muktsar leaders 

Muktsar: Former state BJP chief Kamal Sharma held a meeting with party activists in Malout on Wednesday to discuss the growing differences with the Akali Dal. Sharma listened to the grievances of the workers. Sandeep Girdhar, president, Muktsar block, said: “We have apprised Kamal Sharma of our differences with the SAD. He has assured us to take up the matter with the party seniors in Delhi and Chandigarh.” Earlier, district party leaders had met state chief Vijay Sampla in Chandigarh over the issue. They have already passed a resolution that they would not campaign in favour of any Akali candidate in Muktsar district, accusing SAD leaders of ignoring and humiliating them. Archit Watts