M A I N   N E W S

Voices of dissent raised
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 15
Supporters of senior SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra today raised the banner of revolt following the announcement of the candidature of Capt Kanwaljit Singh from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat, even as Mr Chandumajra asserted he would talk to the high command to ascertain the circumstances under which he had been denied the party ticket.

Supporters of Mr Chandumajra, who has been twice elected from this constituency earlier, gathered at the Dukhniwaran gurdwara when they came to know that he had been denied the party nomination from the Patiala seat. The supporters, numbering several hundred, raised slogans against the SGPC President Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and alleged that the party had “sold out” the ticket at the instance of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.

The supporters had collected in the morning following reports that the SAD was veering towards the candidature of Capt Kanwaljit Singh. According to sources, supporters went to the residence of Mr Tohra’s son-in-law Harmail Singh Tohra, where the SGPC chief now resides, but could not meet him.

The sources said the workers were told that Mr Tohra had gone to Khanna. The workers upon going to Khanna were told that the SGPC chief had returned back to a village near Patiala. When they went to the village, Mr Tohra told them to go back to Gurdwara Dukhniwaran, promising he would meet them there.

Even as the SGPC President did not keep his date, news of the announcement of Capt Kanwaljit’s candidature filtered in. The supporters got agitated following this development and started raising slogans against Mr Tohra and his son-in-law. Speeches were made on the occasion claiming that Mr Chandumajra had been denied the party ticket at the instance of Capt Amarinder Singh whose wife, Ms Preneet Kaur, is the Congress candidate from the seat. Mr Chandumajra himself reached the spot following which the workers took a vow to “fight the injustice meted out to them”.

Later is was decided to hold a meeting of supporters of Mr Chandumajra from all nine Assembly segments of the constituency at Prem Bagh in the city on February 20. Mr Chandumajra, when contacted on the issue, said he felt that his right over the ticket had been ignored.

Vimal Sumbly adds from Ludhiana: As the process of nominating candidates for various Parliamentary constituencies in the state has started, Voices of dissent are being raised from various quarters in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Moreover, the groups loyal to SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra are feeling alienated after Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra was denied ticket from Patiala.

The problem appears to be quite serious in Ludhiana where president of the youth wing of the party Sharanjit Singh Dhillon considers himself as a party candidate. Mr Dhillon will organise a rally tomorrow, which is likely to be addressed by SAD president, Parkash Singh Badal and BJP leaders.

Mr Dhillon is being supported by Mr Sukhbir Badal. The Tohra group has several strong contenders like Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal and Mr Hira Singh Gabria. Besides Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, a two-time MP and a Badal loyalist, is also in the race. All four have reportedly decided to plead with Mr Badal against the nomination of Mr Dhillon claiming that he is a new comer.

These leaders reportedly told Mr Badal that in case Mr Dhillon was nominated, it would amount to “handing over the seat to the Congress on a platter”.

It is learnt that Mr Dhillon expects Mr Badal to announce his candidature tomorrow in the rally.

If Mr Badal nominates him, it may antagonise Mr Tohra and his loyalists further. This may even lead to division within SAD after the unity. Mr Tohra loyalists are apprehending that Mr Badal may nominate Mr Dhillon as he would like to keep Mr Tohra under check. Mr Badal has not appointed Mr S.S. Bhaur as the senior vice-president of the party as had been agreed in the unity agreement.

While the Tohra loyalists are already sore with the move, even Mr Badal, supporters are not prepared to accept Mr Dhillon as their candidate.