Faction-ridden Cong conducts voting to decide candidate for post of mayor

In an attempt to end factionalism, the Congress high command today conducted voting to elect the party candidate for the mayor poll.

Senior Congress leaders, including Harish Chaudhary, former All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Punjab affairs, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, election in-charge Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni gathered to finalise the party’s mayoral candidate.

According to reports, all 41 Congress councillors were present in the meeting. Vikas Soni, nephew of former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, secured 30 votes, while Rajkawal Preetpal Singh Lucky bagged 11 votes.

Vikas Soni, a two-time councillor, has always been vocal about the issues affecting the residents.

However, it won’t be easy for the Congress to elect the Mayor, as they do not hold a clear majority in the House. The Aam Aadmi Party claims to have 38 members in the House. The AAP is reportedly eyeing councillors from the BJP and SAD.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders accused the AAP leadership of indulging in ‘horse trading’.