Laali is Punjab Youth Cong chief
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 11
The election of Amarpreet Singh Laali of Hoshiarpur as president of the Punjab Youth Congress once again proved the dominance of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh.
Laali, who got 4,447 votes, defeated Kulbir Sigh Zira, son of Congress’ Kisan Cell chairman Inderjit Singh Zira, who secured 2,825 votes.
Khushbaz Singh Jatana trailed them at 1,222 votes followed by other contenders — Deepinder Singh Randhawa (527), Daman Kaur Bajwa (377) and Punam (220). Inderjit Singh Zira and his son are considered close to PPCC chief Partap Bajwa.
Bajwa is learnt to have supported Zira in a covert manner even as his bête-noire had openly thrown his weight behind Laali.
In his victory, Amarinder’s supporters were busy projecting their leader’s popularity among party cadre and his ability to make someone of his choice wear the crown of an important party organisation.
Buyoed over the success of their mass contact programmes, Amarinder’s supporters are further motivated.
Besides, Laali also enjoyed the support of AICC general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ambika Soni and former Sangrur Member Parliament Vijay Inder Singla.
Wresting control of the Punjab Yout Congress was also important for Amarinder as his entire focus these days was on Punjab for which he has not even been attending Congress MPs’ protest in New Delhi.
While Laali, who got the maximum number of votes, was declared president, those who trailed him got other posts.
The winners
President: Amarpreet Laali
Senior vice-president: Kulbir Zira
Vice-president: Khushbaaz Jatana
Vice-president: Deepinder Randhawa
Vice-president: Daman Bajwa
Vice-president: Punam
