CM pacifies ‘upset’ Karnal ex-Mayor

Three days after the distribution of party tickets for the Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini late Saturday reached the residence of former Mayor Renu Bala Gupta to pacify her and supporters.

Gupta has already expressed anger over the distribution of seat. The party has chosen Jagmohan Anand, former media coordinator to the ex-Chief Minister, as its candidate for the upcoming elections. This decision has sparked discontent among party workers and Gupta’s supporters, who claim that Anand is a weak candidate and that the party’s chances of securing victory from this crucial seat are very thin.

Supporters of Gupta have demanded a fresh survey to reassess the candidate’s viability. They said if Gupta was not deemed a winning candidate, they would not seek the ticket for her. The CM interacted with party workers and gave them a patient hearing. Party leaders and workers urged the CM to reconsider the ticket. They also requested the CM to contest from Karnal again. In a closed-door meeting, family members also expressed anger. The former Mayor on Friday accused the party leadership of ignoring the merit in ticket distribution. Gupta’s supporters said they had given three days to the party to reconsider their decision.