Cong panel meets, no call on candidates

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

The Congress Election Committee, headed by party chief Sonia Gandhi, met for the first time today regarding the Punjab elections. The deliberations will continue on December 8.

Congress sources said the meeting was preliminary and no specifics on seat allocation or candidates were discussed. “The talks focused on the political situation of Punjab, the state of preparedness of rival parties (AAP and SAD-BJP) and the assessment of the Congress vis-a-vis the adversaries,” a leader privy to the developments said.

The panel comprising Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders also discussed the newcomers to the Congress and how their entry would play out within the party structure. Indications are that the Congress may eventually field Pargat Singh, Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Inderbir Bolaria from their current Assembly segments and adjust the party hopefuls in other places. The Tribune has learnt that Rahul Gandhi is not happy with the induction of former Akali minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur.

Senior leaders such as Manish Tewari and Manpreet Badal are likely to get the seats they are seeking — Ludhiana East and Bathinda Urban, respectively.

It is learnt that the Congress is not in a hurry to declare the candidates, considering that the Election Commission is yet to notify the poll. “There is still time,” a source said.

Sonia’s political adviser Ahmed Patel, estranged Congress leader ML Fotedar and senior leader Mohsina Kidwai did not attend the meeting of the 13-member panel.