BJP likely to replace 4 ministers, 2 MLAs

Vibha Sharma & Sanjeev S Bariana

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Chandigarh, Jan 12

With clear indications that some of the six sitting MLAs, not named in the first list, may not even make it to the final list, the anxious legislators have been making last-ditch efforts to secure the ticket for themselves or at least their near and dear ones.

The BJP has announced candidates for 17 of the 23 seats in its kitty, withholding the names of ministers Madan Mohan Mittal (Anandpur Sahib), Chunni Lal Bhagat (Jalandhar West), Anil Joshi (Amritsar North) and Surjit Kumar Jyani (Fazilka), besides MLAs Som Parkash (Phagwara) and Manoranjan Kalia (Jalandhar Central).

While Mittal and Bhagat, both aged above 75 years, are learnt to be lobbying for ticket to their sons, Joshi and Kalia are learnt to be pleading their case citing their “dedication” for the party.

There are differences in opinion between BJP president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on five seats, following which the list was withheld last night, said sources. No consensus could be reached even during a late-night meeting between BJP Punjab incharge Prabhat Jha and Jaitley, it has been learnt.

The sitting MLAs on the list include Sukhjit Kaur Sahi (Dasuya), KD Bhandari (Jalandhar North), Dinesh Babbu (Sujanpur), Seema Kumari (Bhoa) and Parveen Bansal (Ludhiana North). The list also included Tikshan Sud (Hoshiarpur), Tarun Chugh (Amritsar Central), BD Dhupar (Dinanagar) and Sukhpal Nannu (Ferozepur).

Sources said besides denying the ticket to leaders above 75 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was against those lobbying for nomination for their relatives.

It has been learnt that an internal survey conducted by the party had indicated a huge anti-incumbency factor against certain sitting MLAs.

Factionalism makes going tough for BJP

Hoshiarpur: Looks like factionalism will make winning hard for the BJP on all three seats in the district. On all three seats of Hoshiarpur, Dasuya and Mukerian, various factions are fighting against one another. In Mukerian, Jangi Lal Mahajan, former BJP district president, on Thursday said he would contest as Independent after the ticket was given to his opponent Arunesh Shakir. In Dasuya, former MC president Ravi Shingari is set to oppose MLA Sukhjit Sahi. In Hoshiarpur, there are two factions — one led by Adviser to CM Tikshan Sud and the other of national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna.  Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Won’t support party candidate, says Gosain

Ludhiana: Veteran BJP leader Satpal Gosain on Thursday announced that he would not support party’s Ludhiana Central candidate Gurudev Sharma. He said he had worked selflessly for the party for 55-60 years. He said he had no regrets that the party did not allot him the ticket, as he, on his part, had been an “honest, sincere and dedicated worker”. Gosain said he would not support Sharma, who incidentally happens to be his son-in-law's distant relative.  Minna Zutshi