Cong weighs options for district chief

With AICC (All India Congress Committee) observer Rajesh Lilothia initiating meetings with party workers to finalise the name for the District Congress Committee (Urban) president, several new contenders have emerged for the post.

While incumbent DCC chief and former MLA Rajinder Beri is keen to retain the position, several municipal councillors and ex-councillors have also expressed interest. Those reportedly in the fray include Jalandhar West halqa incharge Surinder Kaur, Balraj Thakur, Bunty Neelkanth, Pawan Kumar and Manu Warring.

The party is also weighing caste equations in its decision-making. A party insider said, “If the party plans to continue with a Hindu DCC chief, Beri could be reconsidered. In case it wants to project a Sikh face, Neelkanth may be an option. Among Dalit claimants are Surinder Kaur and Pawan Kumar.”

Lilothia addressed a meeting held at White Diamond Resort on 66-feet road in the Jalandhar Cantt constituency, chaired jointly with Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh.

As part of the ongoing deliberations for upcoming elections of Urban and Rural Presidents, Lilothia interacted with Congress workers of the constituency. He assured them that the selection process would be transparent and fair. “Candidates for both Urban and Rural Presidents will be chosen from those who have consistently raised issues at the grassroots level. The focus now is on further strengthening the Congress,” he said.

MLA Pargat Singh thanked Lilothia for energising party workers and said Congress can return to power in Punjab only by reinforcing its organisational structure. “Workers must immediately begin efforts to strengthen the party. Together, we can give Punjab a new direction,” he said. Former minister Sunder Sham Arora also attended the meeting.