Yet to get ticket, Congress leader in campaign mode

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, January 6

The Congress is yet to announce its candidate from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home turf Lambi. But this has not deterred Gurmeet Singh Khudian, president, District Congress Committee, Muktsar, campaigning in the Assembly segment.

He and senior leader Maheshinder Singh Badal visited a few villagers today. Sources said a meeting was held at the house of Maheshinder, an estranged cousin of the Chief Minister. He had lost Badal by 24,739 votes in the 2012 elections.

If Khudian gets the ticket, he will be a first-timer against Badal, who has been representing Lambi in the Vidhan Sabha since 1997. Khudian is the son of former MP Jagdev Singh Khudian.

During their meetings, Maheshinder introduced Khudian as his nephew, asking public to vote for him.

Khudian told The Tribune, “The party will declare my candidature on or before January 9. I started campaigning today, as people asked us not to delay it further. My seniors in the party have put out feelers that my name has been cleared from Lambi.”

Jagpal Singh Abulkhurana, general secretary, Punjab Congress, is among the frontrunners for the ticket from Lambi. He visited some villages today.