Cong forms strategy panel for byelections

The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) has constituted a strategy-cum-planning committee for the byelections.

Led by Leader of Oppostion Partap Singh Bajwa, the committee includes former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, PPCC chief Amrinder Raja Warring, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Randhawa and former minister Vijay Inder Singla.

A senior party leader said with the SAD, the rebel Akali group (Akali Sudhar Lehar) and radicals not contesting the bypolls, the Congress was being forced to tweak its strategy. Bajwa has already said the withdrawals are part of these groups’understanding with the BJP. The Congress is focussing on Gidderbaha and Derababa Nanak seats in particular. From Gidderbaha, Amrita Warring, wife of the PCC chief, is contesting and from Dera Baba Nanak, Jatinder kaur, wife of Randhawa, is in the fray.

“With Manpreet joining the BJP, Dimpy joining AAP and the Akalis not contesting, the four-cornered contest has now become triangular. A sizeable Akali cadre votes could now split among the non-Congress parties. We strongly believe that Akali and rebel Akalis would help Manpreet in the elections,” feel party leaders.

In the reserved Chabbewal constituency, the Congress faces challenge from AAP candidate Ishaank Chabbewal, son of the sitting Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal. Congress candidate Ranjit Kumar is on a weak footing after the protest by Congress leader Kulwinder Singh Rasoolpur, who was working as the constituency in-charge.

Jagmeet backs out of Gidderbaha bypoll

Muktsar: Former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar on Wednesday withdrew his nomination from the Gidderbaha bypoll. He had filed his nomination as an Independent candidate. Jagmeet said, “In this election, money power will prevail and I don’t want to follow any unethical practices.”