M A I N   N E W S

43 Punjab Cong MLAs submit resignations
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 17
Fortythree Congress MLAs today submitted their resignations to the PPCC to be forwarded to Congress president Sonia Gandhi after the Amritsar byelection, which is scheduled for May 22. Capt Amarinder Singh did not submit his resignation. Meanwhile, PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal expelled former MLA Harjinder Singh Thekedar, a confidant of Capt Amarinder Singh, from primary membership of the party for six years. Thekedar, who was denied party ticket for the byelection, had refused to campaign in favour of Congress candidate.

Though 35 MLAs, including confidants of Capt Amarinder Singh, attended the Congress meeting, the rest of the MLAs consented to send their resignations by fax. Talking to The Tribune, Bhattal said Capt Amarinder Singh, who was out of the state, could not be contacted. His confidant MLAs Makhan Singh, Ajaib Singh Bhatti and Gurpreet Singh Dinakangar also submitted their resignations to Bhattal. Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, the MLA from Talwandi Sabo and confidant of Capt Amarinder Singh, had committed to send his resignation through fax. He was out of station.

Party’s chief spokesman Bir Devinder Singh said the PPCC would launch a “satyagraha” against the SAD-BJP government for its failure to check rigging during the Panchayat polls from May 24.