Rural polls: Show of unity by Cong leaders

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, September 13

After washing their dirty linen in public on a number of occasions, the Congress leadership here is presenting a united face while canvassing for the party candidates in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.

For instance, Congress leaders, including Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, former Muktsar MLA Karan Kaur Brar, PPCC general secretary Jagjit Singh ‘Honey Fattanwala’ and Independent candidate in the Assembly election Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar are jointly campaigning for the Congress candidates these days.

However, just a few days ago, Honey had fielded seven rebel candidates in the Panchayat Samiti elections, saying Brar never consulted him for any party activity in the Muktsar Assembly constituency. Later, he reached a pact with her and withdrew the nominations of his candidates saying the party had agreed to field three of his candidates as official candidates.

Earlier too, Honey had lodged a parallel protest to the Congress protest against the Centre and PM Narendra Modi. Similarly, Brar too had accused Warring of interfering in her constituency and had a hand in the ousting of four Congress councillors, including party leader Yadwinder Singh Yadu, vice-president of the Muktsar MC. Later, the orders of ousting of Congress councillors were terminated with the efforts of Brar.

Besides, former SAD leader Sukhdrashan Singh Mrar had contested the Assembly elections against Brar as an Independent in 2017, but both lost it to SAD nominee Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi. A few days ago, Mrar had joined expelled Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar in his “Mukti Yatra”.

Notably, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar had on Wednesday warned all the party leaders to support the party’s official candidates or face disciplinary action.