In poll mode, Cong plans early release of panchayat funds

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9

Hitting the poll mode, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and ministers will fan out in the state to administer the oath of office to panchayat, block and zila parishad (ZP) members on January 11 and January 12.

With Congress president Rahul Gandhi directing the state leadership to pull all stops for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Chief Minister would be administering the oath to the elected representatives in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib. As per the schedule, all the ministers would go to the districts, other than their constituencies.

A senior government functionary said the process of administering the oath should be over before January 31 so that funds for development could be given to the panchayats before the Budget Session scheduled for mid-February.

Though the Chief Minister after his recent meeting with Congress president Rahul Ganhi denied any discussion on the name of the candidates for the parliamentary elections, it is learnt that three sitting MPs — Ravneet Bittu (Ludhiana), Chaudhary Santokh Singh (Jalandhar) and Sunil Jakhar (Gurdaspur) are likely to be fielded from their respective constituencies. While Jakhar is already active in his constituency, former PPCC chief Partap Bajwa has been staking claim to the seat. The Amritsar parliamentary seat could see a new face.

Jakhar, who is also the PPCC chief, will go to Dinanagar on Thursday to attend a felicitation ceremony for the elected representatives being organised by local MLA and Transport Minister Aruna Chaudhary.

It is learnt that the party high command has already got two discreet surveys done to ascertain the winnability of the candidates. There are also reports of Cabinet ministers being fielded from Bathinda and Fatehgarh Sahib. It would be interesting to watch that what role would be given to Local Government, Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, especially after the recent rise in his popularity.

After directions from the Congress president, the state leadership has already done the exercise of doling out political appointments to leaders — other than the MLAs. “With the parliamentary elections approaching fast, it would be very difficult for the state leadership to do the balancing act on appointments without antagonising a few people,” said a senior party leader.