New Delhi, September 2
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and PCC chief H. S. Hanspal today met Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, AICC incharge of Punjab, to discuss candidates for the next month’s byelections in the state.
The two leaders will tomorrow send to Mr Mukherjee a panel of names of candidates for Kapurthala and Garhshankar for which polling will be held on October 13. The PCC has drawn up a list of probables for the two seats which will be scrutinised before it is sent to the AICC.
Capt Amarinder Singh said that winnability will be the main factor in deciding candidates. He said Mr Mukherjee is likely to visit Punjab next week.
Asked about demands for his resignation in the wake of Mr A.K. Antony resigning as Kerala Chief Minister over the Congress debacle in the state in the Lok Sabha polls, Capt Amarinder Singh said “It is entirely the Congress president’s decision”.
“I am a committed Congressman. Whatever the Congress president says I will abide by it,” he said.
Asked if he had sought an appointment with the Congress President, the Chief Minister said he was returning to Punjab tomorrow morning. “I will certainly ask for an appointment when I come to the Capital next time.”
The Chief Minister also met Home Minister Shivraj Patil for over an hour. Senior state police officers were present during the meeting. Capt Amarinder Singh said several police-related issues, including its modernisation, were discussed.
