Punjab Congress firefights ahead of second list

Chandigarh, January 17

Ahead of announcing the remaining 31 seats, the Punjab Congress has stepped up efforts to mollify leaders who have been denied the ticket in its first list of 86 candidates announced a few days ago.

On Monday, senior party leader from Majitha, Bhagwant Singh Sachar, returned to the Congress fold hours after joining the BJP. He has been denied a ticket from Majha. Only yesterday, the party prevailed upon another senior party leader Mohinder Kaypee, who had been denied the ticket from the Adampur seat. The party has assured Kaypee of being allotted the Adampur seat in its review of seats already given.

Regarding the announcement by Dr Manohar Singh, brother of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, to contest as an Independent candidate from Bassi Pathana, the CM said he would make his brother and party nominee Gurpreet Singh GP sit together and resolve the issue. The CM clarified there were no differences in his family on the issue. Sources said on seats where it wanted to replace the sitting MLA or had no candidate, the party was poaching suitable candidates.

In case of Ferozepur Rural seat, the party has brought in AAP candidate Amandeep Singh Ashu Banger for the seat, as sitting MLA Satkar Kaur is likely to be denied the ticket. A party leader said more such candidates may be brought in at other places also.

Phillaur, son switch to SAD(S)

With the Congress fielding Vikramjeet Chaudhary from Phillaur, former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur and his son Damanvir joined the SAD (Sanyukt) on Monday. Phillaur, a six-time MLA, was minister in the SAD-BJP govt (2012-17) but had quit in 2014 after his son’s name figured in a multi-crore drug scam. TNS

Mollifying sulking leaders

• Bhagwant Singh Sachar returned to the Congress fold hours after he joined the BJP. He was denied ticket from Majha region
• Mohinder Kaypee, who was denied ticket from Adampur, has been promised the seat during party’s review of constituencies
• CM’s brother Dr Manohar Singh and Bassi Pathana nominee Gurpreet Singh GP will be brought together to resolve issue