Congress faultlines resurface in Doaba

Amid recent attempts to project the Congress as a united house, the division in the party has resurfaced in the Doaba region ahead of the zila parishad and block samiti elections.

According to sources, a major rift is visible in Phillaur between Jalandhar Lok Sabha MP Charanjit Singh Channi and MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary.

While the party had made it clear that the local MLAs and halqa in-charges would have their say in the selection of the candidates, Chaudhary’s pick for the Bundala seat — Harjinder Kaur — had to withdraw her papers. The party fielded her rival Bhalwinder Kaur, who “applied through” Channi’s son Navjeet Singh.

Another candidate close to Channi, who could not get the Congress ticket, chose to contest from the BSP. There are others from the MP’s circle who are learnt to be contesting independently to trounce the MLA candidates.

The BSP is strong on certain seats, including Nagar, Teg, Mau Sahib and Nangal Ramgarh block samitis.

A division in the Congress can also be seen in Kartarpur.

While halqa incharge Rajinder Singh enjoys the support of state party president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, former legislator Surinder Singh Chaudhary is close to Channi.

Since Rajinder had more say in the selection of candidates, this has not gone down well with Surinder Chaudhary, who is reportedly is unhappy with the move and is not campaigning.

In Sultanpur Lodhi, where Congress leader Rana Gurjeet Singh’s son Rana Inder Partap is an Independent MLA, the local Congress halqa in-charge Navtej Cheema faced problems in finalising the candidates.

There were similar issues in Nawanshahr district too.

After the demise of former Congress MLA Tarlochan S Soondh, his wife Meena Soondh and halqa in-charge Satvir S Palli Jhikki vied to get their candidates fielded.