Punjab polls: All well, consensus on most candidates, says Navjot Singh Sidhu

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 5

The Congress screening committee for Punjab elections met for a second time in two days on Wednesday with state unit president Navjot Sidhu saying there was consensus on the majority of candidates to be fielded in the upcoming polls.

“The meetings are taking place in a very positive environment. All is well. Congress will win. There is consensus on majority candidates,” said Sidhu, a day after four Punjab ministers met AICC general secretary organisation KC Venugopal asking him to rein in Navjot Sidhu and prevent his propensity for making unilateral announcements including cash incentive for women of Punjab, poll candidates and others.

The ministers also urged the high command to ensure unity between Sidhu and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is not only there but is also visible.

After the screening panel meeting on Wednesday Sidhu looked upbeat saying all meetings were happening in a cordial atmosphere.

Chairman of the screening committee and party general secretary for Rajasthan Ajay Maken said majority seats had been finalized with consensus.

The Tribune has learnt that 70 candidate names are clear.

Maken however remained silent on how many sitting MLAs out of 80 would be dropped and said, “Winnability is our criterion and we will also field fresh faces”.

Indian Youth Congress chief BV Srinivas also met the panel today to forward names of youth for candidature in the upcoming elections.

The screening committee will meet once more before sending its shortlist to the AICC central election committee which will approve the final candidates.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi heads the CEC. Rahul Gandhi, an important CEC member, continues to be abroad.

His return is awaited even as SAD has announced all but three seats in Punjab and AAP has announced more than 80.

The state assembly has 117 seats, with Congress holding 80 currently.