Bypoll: Race hots up among ticket-seekers in Cong, BJP

Our Correpondent

Phagwara, August 23 

As senior Congress leader Sohan Lal Banga has been appointed as the Chairman, Improvement Trust, Phagwara, and the race for the ticket seekers in the Congress and BJP has intensified here.

As after electing Phagwara MLA Som Parkash (BJP) as MP and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, now the Phagwara Assembly constituency is going to face the by-elections to elect new MLA for Phagwara in next few months. 

The Congress and the BJP could be witnessed suffering from factionalism even after the Lok Sabha poll.

Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla, despite his assurances to work for the unity in the BJP is now making efforts to get the party ticket for his relatives, including his son and nephew.

Another senior BJP leader Rajesh Bagha is also an aspirant for the BJP ticket. Som Parkash is taking interest to get the BJP ticket for his wife Anita Som Parkash. 

In Congress, despite the instructions and advice of the PPCC High Command and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to the party leaders to maintain unity to strengthen the party in the state factionalism and the tug- of-war between Phagwara Congress leaders still continue. 

Former minister Joginder Singh Maan who had faced defeat twice is also making efforts to get the ticket. Balbir Rani Sodhi, vice-president, Punjab Mahila Congress is also being seen as the main contender for the ticket.

The party high command can also consider one IAS officer Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal.

Chaudhary Mohan Lal, son of former BJP Minister Swarana Ram, who remained SAD MLA from Banga and recently joined the Congress could also be a choice of the party as Mohan Lal could divide BJP votes. 

Activists of the Congress are being seen in confusion to decide their activities in favour of the Congress leader. By-elections of Phagwara Assembly could be held in the first week of November. Meanwhile it was reliably learnt that the Congress-led state government could dissolve Municipal Corporation at any time now.

Fact file

As after electing Phagwara MLA Som Parkash (BJP) as MP and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, now the Phagwara Assembly constituency is going to face the by-elections to elect new MLA for Phagwara in next few months.