Cong may field at least 11 women

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 5

Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s keenness to field a “fair number” of women candidates will be tested in Punjab.

Sources in the party indicate that the Congress is looking to field at least 11 women, the figure it had touched in the 2012 elections, but may not be in a position to reach the 33 per cent reservation mark in ticket allotment.

When asked about the candidature of female applicants, a senior leader dealing with Punjab affairs quipped, “33 per cent reservation for women is meant for internal party posts.”

In the 2012 poll, six of the 11 women candidates fielded by the party had won (Preneet Kaur won the byelection from Patiala in 2014).

This time, there are around 125 women among the 1,700-odd Congress applicants. Of the party’s seven sitting women MLAs, three have opted out in favour of family members — Preneet Kaur for her husband, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh, from Patiala; Charanjit Kaur Bajwa in favour of her brother-in-law Fateh Jung Bajwa from Qadian; and Guriqbal Kaur Babli in favour of her son in Nawanshahr.

The other legislators — Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Harchand Kaur, Karan Kaur Brar and Aruna Choudhry – are likely to recontest from their respective seats. Newly-inducted Navjot Kaur Sidhu will also be fielded from her constituency, Amritsar East.

Bhattal told The Tribune today, “Notwithstanding who my rival is, I will contest from Lehra.” The Akali Dal has fielded Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa from this seat.

Asked why the Congress does not want to experiment with more women candidates, a source privy to the developments said, “That is because we are not facing a direct contest. There is no wave in anyone’s favour right now. Winnability will be the topmost consideration. Representation is a secondary goal.”