Rinku holds meeting for Chaudhary, bonhomie missing

Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 20

Having earlier competed with Jalandhar sitting MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh for getting ticket to the Lok Sabha seat this time, Jalandhar West MLA Sushil Rinku today organised a meeting for him in his constituency. The meeting seemed more like a formality and a photo opportunity with bonhomie between the two leaders apparently missing.

Though Rinku welcomed Chaudhary by touching his feet, the duo did not appreciate each other’s role much during their speeches.

Rinku harped more on the campaign that he had undertaken ahead of the announcement of the Jalandhar ticket.

“I and my workers managed to establish contact with as many as 60,000 voters standing at roundabouts daily with party flags and material. I thank my workers for the same,” he said.

Even today about six-seven youths were engaged in hoisting party flags on the stage and around the hall. Rinku asked Chaudhary to at least provide some election material for canvassing in his area.

Chaudhary too did not thank Rinku for the campaign that he did for he knew that it was for his self-propagation. Also, Rinku had stopped it just as Chaudhary’s ticket got announced. The latter harped more on problems faced by people due to the GST and demonetisation imposed by the Centre. He also talked of stunted growth of the industry.

Perhaps being conscious of the fresh relationship that they have rebuilt after intervention of the party high command, both of them forgot to mention about having laid the foundation stone of a new government degree college at Buta Mandi. Both Chaudhary and Rinku had indulged in a credit war over the project during the function attended by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

It was for the first time that party posters had pictures of both Chaudhary and Rinku on one hoarding.

Even during the foundation stone-laying function of the college, they had put up separate posters in the city.

Councillors supporting Rinku, including Deputy Mayor Harsimranjit Singh Bunty and Rinku’s wife Sunita Rani, who were earlier seen in programmes of Chaudhary Santokh Singh, were seen together on a common platform. Senior Deputy Mayor Surinder Kaur was among those others present.

A party insider on seeing today’s function said: “Both Rinku and Chaudhary have at least come together, may be due to the pressure of high command. The bonhomie surely will take some more time.”

All set for CM’s rally

Preparations began today for organising a rally which Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will address on Monday at PUDA Complex ahead of the filing of the nomination papers of Chaudhary Santokh Singh. Tents were being set up today for the rally which the party is planning to organise for a gathering of about 5,000 people.