Capt to be named CM face: Anand Sharma

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 23

Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, today said that Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh would be declared the Chief Ministerial candidate soon.

He said this here after campaigning for Congress candidate Rana Gurjit Singh Singh in Kapurthala.

“There are 10 days for voting, a pretty long time to make the announcement. You will surely get to hear it,” the former Union minister told the media.

The party’s star campaigner hinted at the time of the announcement when he said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be visiting Punjab on a three-day tour from January 27. “The Congress has endorsed whatever Capt has said.”

The Congress leader quoted a survey of AIIMS on drug abuse in Punjab. “There are 1.25 lakh heroin addicts in the state and about 2.3 lakh are addicted to other habit-forming drugs,” he said.

He said those responsible for the 1984 riots had still not been punished. “Several commissions headed by Chief Justices have been formed. Even courts took time. Those who committed the barbaric incident should have been behind bars. To blame the Congress alone is wrong,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, “I hope people will neither vote for the ‘goonda’ government nor ‘bhagoda’ (runaway) government of AAP.”

Meanwhile, posters kick up row

Amritsar: Posters projecting Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Congress' CM candidate have triggered a controversy. These were spotted in Amritsar East constituency, from where Sidhu is contesting. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Just a few days before elections, ugly war starts between Captain n Sidhu". Later, Sanjay Singh tweeted, "Kaha tha Congress aapas me achha ladegi.... Congress buri tarah se haar rahi hai lekin CM ka sapna Sidhu va Amarinder dono dekh rahe hain." The posters don't mention the name of the printer and publisher, which is mandatory under the election norms. GS Paul