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Jolt to Cong in Sunam bypoll
CPI rejects plea on common candidate
From Tribune Reporters

SUNAM, Sept 14 — The Punjab Congress today suffered a setback as the talks between the Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI) regarding a common candidate for the Sunam Assembly byelection failed, with Dr Joginder Dayal, Secretary of the Punjab unit of the CPI, refusing to oblige the Congress leadership by withdrawing his party’s candidate from the contest in favour of the Congress candidate, Mrs Parmeswari Devi.

It is learnt that the Punjab Congress leadership made a last effort to persuade the CPI leadership to withdraw its candidate to prevent the division of votes which will benefit the SAD-BJP alliance candidate.

Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, Central Observer of the Congress for the Sunam byelection, Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the PPCC, and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Punjab Chief Minister, (all from the Congress) and Dr Joginder Dayal from the CPI attended the meeting and held talks.

Talking to TNS after the meeting, Dr Dayal admitted that talks between the two parties over the fielding of a common candidate in the Sunam Assembly byelection had failed.

Dr Dayal said the CPI had made it clear to the Congress that it would contest the byelection at all costs. However, he added that the CPI might have an alliance with the Congress in the next assembly election. The CPI had given a proposal to the Congress that all forces which opposed the SAD-BJP alliance should field a common candidate to defeat the SAD-BJP nominee, but the proposal could not mature.

Dr Dayal stated that the Sunam byelection was very crucial because if the seat was won by the SAD, Mr Parkash Singh Badal would go for a mid-term poll as after the current paddy crop, the wheat crop would not be lifted by the government agencies. Besides, the WTO agreement would also be implemented till then. Both these things would harm the SAD in a big way if the mid-term poll was not held.

Dr Dayal said he appealed to the Congress to work out a broad understanding to defeat the SAD-BJP. He further said there was no doubt that earlier the Sunam seat was with the Congress. But at times, one had to rise above narrow party considerations. The Congress failed to do so with regard to a common candidate for the Sunam byelection.

Mr Jagmeet Brar, Senior Vice-President of the Congress, disclosed that the CPI leader had told the Congress leadership that the CPI could not withdraw its candidate as it was a decision of the state executive committee of the party. Mr Brar claimed that he had done a lot of work behind the scene to convince the CPI leadership not to field its candidate in Sunam, but his efforts failed.

Later, addressing a press conference, Capt Amarinder Singh also admitted that talks between the Congress and the CPI had failed as the CPI leader was adamant on contesting this byelection on the plea that the CPI state executive committee had already decided to contest it.

The PPCC President also demanded immediate transfers of the ADC, Sangrur, Mr B.S. Shergill, the DDPO, Mr J.P. Cheema, the Sunam DSP, Mr Pritpal Singh Thind, the Sunam SHO, Mr Rajwinder Singh, the Lehragagga SHO, Mr Jasbir Singh, the Dharamgarh ASI, Mr Gurbhajan Singh, and Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, ADC, Patiala, for helping the SAD and its candidate.

Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said the Congress would not allow the Badal government to “misuse its power” in this byelection. She said the party would contest this byelection as an united force.

Mr Sant Ram Singla, Senior Vice-President of the Punjab Congress, alleged that Mr S.S. Dhindsa’s wife had given cheques of grants to villages for development works the previous day.