Filing of papers begins today, Cong list stuck

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 10

On the eve of commencement of the nomination filing process in Punjab, the Congress Central Election Committee met again to discuss 40 seats. Though it arrived at a broad agreement on a majority of these, the CEC didn’t declare the list today. The list may be released tomorrow.

Sources say the list is taking time as party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has to take a call on many segments. The top call Rahul has to take involves whether or not to field former minister Manish Tewari. Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu is against Tewari’s nomination and wants ticket for local councillor Sanjeev Talwar.

There is likelihood of former MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee being fielded from Adampur. Newcomer Deepender Dhillon (formerly from SAD) is expected to bag the Dera Bassi ticket while Sahnewal is likely to go to Punjabi singer Satwinder Bitti.

Hoshiarpur’s Pawan Adhia may outrun former MoS Santosh Choudhry and her family in the race for Sham Chaurasi seat. For Garhshankar, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh is backing former MLA Lov Kumar Goldy, while CLP leader Charanjit Channi wants ticket for Nimisha Mehta.

Punjab screening panel chief Ashok Gehlot and Amarinder want Pargat Singh to shift to Nakodar from Jalandhar Cantt. Pargat Singh is not game for a switch and the ball is in Rahul’s court. In Phillaur, it is certain the Congress will deny ticket to former Akali minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur.

In Amritsar South, tensions continue after JS Dimpa refused to withdraw his claim in favour of former Akali leader Inderbir Bolaria.