Now, Navjot Sidhu bats for Harinderpal Singh Harry Mann from Sanaur

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Sanaur (Patiala), December 30

Fissures within the Congress yet again came to the fore after Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu today sought support for Harinderpal Singh Harry Mann from the Sanaur Assembly segment, which party stalwart Lal Singh is eyeing.

Out in support

CM Charanjit Channi has so far supported the candidature of Daman Bajwa (Sunam), Namisha Mehta (Garhshankar) & Gurpreet Kangar (Rampura Phul). Sidhu, on the other hand, has backed Ashwani Sekhri (Batala), Harvinder Laddi (Bathinda Rural) & Navtej Cheema (Kapurthala).

Debt concerns

Sidhu said the GST compensation grant would discontinue in June 2022, increasing the fiscal deficit by Rs18,000 cr annually and leaving the state at the mercy of the Centre.

Even as the Congress screening committee is yet to come out with its final list of candidates, Lal Singh said no one except the high command could announce candidates.

Addressing party workers at Anaj Mandi, Devigarh, in the segment, Sidhu said he would ensure local leader Mann’s victory in the elections. “Mann had lost the elections by 4,000 votes in 2017, but he will win by over 40,000 votes this time,” he claimed.

Sidhu promised to drive out mafia that had taken over the state and bring in a new ‘Punjab model’. There was a need to implement a cooperative policy to uplift the living standards of farmers, he added.

Opposing the announcement in favour of Mann, Lal Singh said Sidhu could say whatever he wants, but ultimately the screening committee and high command would decide the candidates. “I am still a claimant from the seat and will not speak anything more on the issue,” he said. On his part, Mann said everyone in the segment knew the “deceitful deeds done to them by Lal Singh” along with Shiromani Akali Dal leaders.

“I was allotted the ticket in 2017 due to resentment within the Congress cadre. Being the only Jat Sikh Congress leader in the fray from Patiala district, I am sure to win,” he claimed.