Rift in Cong mars rural body nominations in Jalandhar

Even as the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP, and Congress have been targeting the ruling government over alleged police high-handedness during the filing of nomination papers for Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections, Jalandhar witnessed a different battle — the Congress versus the Congress.

For the past four days since the beginning of the process of filing of papers, there had been reports that Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi's son Navjeet Singh had been holding parallel meetings in Phillaur against those of Congress MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary. Both leaders reportedly kept assuring their respective candidates of securing the party symbol. However, today, the MLA prevailed.

MLA Chaudhary accompanied the Congress candidates Harjinder Kaur from Bundala Zone, Shindo from Dosanjh Kalan Zone, Rajwinder from Apra Zone, and Reshmo from Ganna Pind Zone today to file their nominations for Zila Parishad elections at the DC office. Three candidates, who reportedly had the support of Channi's son, have also filed their papers from Phillaur Block Samitis but they could not get the party symbols.

A similar tussle unfolded in Kartarpur. Halqa incharge Rajinder Singh fielded his own candidates for 34 Block Samitis, while former Congress MLA Surinder Singh Chaudhary tried to secure symbols for his preferred candidates. Eventually, the party handed all symbols to Rajinder Singh, granting him complete discretion.

MP Channi does not go along with Vikramjit Chaudhary since the former contested MP elections. Chaudhary had opposed Channi's candidature in the June 2024 parliamentary polls as he wanted the ticket for his mother Karamjit Chaudhary, who had lost the May 2023 bypoll. Channi had got Chaudhary suspended during his election but he managed a comeback through PCC chief Amarinder Raja Warring and LoP Partap Bajwa in the midst of the Ludhiana West bypoll.

Since Chaudhary's suspension, Channi had been projecting his son Navjeet in Phillaur. Channi had not invited Chaudhary for Navjeet's grand 33rd birthday at his place in Morinda recently, where all party biggies had made it. Channi, however, had invited Vikramjit's cousin and ex-Kartarpur MLA Chaudhary Surinder Singh at the function with whom he is maintaining proximity and was reportedly also supporting him in Kartarpur.

The final say of Vikramjit Chaudhary and Rajinder SIngh is being seen as a victory of the Warring-Bajwa group in Channi's fiefdom since he is MP from the area. Channi, however, maintains, "I did not interfere at all in these rural elections. The MLAs and halqa in-charges were told to do their own selections. As an MP, I had no role in fielding the candidates."