Cong list not before Jan 9

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

With today’s announcement of Punjab Assembly elections on February 4, it will be a race against time for the candidates of the 40 seats yet to be announced by the Congress. But all indications are that the last list comprising all seats will not be out before January 9.

So far, the party has announced 77 seats. The next meeting of the central election committee is scheduled for January 8.

“This is a tough time not just for the probable candidates. Many senior leaders are camping in Delhi to ensure that their choice of candidates makes it to the final list,” said a senior leader.

Party sources said as both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi were out of Delhi, the meeting of the central election committee was planned for January 8. 

It is learnt that Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh was keen on the early declaration of the list as delaying it would give less time to the candidates for campaign.

Lal Singh, Pargat, Phillaur among contenders

At the remaining 40 seats, there are many crucial seats that would decide the fate of candidates like Lal Singh, Harry Mann, Manish Tewari, Inderbir Bolaria, Pargat Singh, Vikram Choudhry, Satwinder Bitti, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Davinder Singh Ghubaya, Kanwajit Karwal, Namisha Mehta, Amarpreet Lali, Jasbir Dimpa, Jagbir Brar, Avtar Henry, Mohinder Kaypee, Yamini Gomar, Harminder Jassi and Rakesh Pandey.