Balancing act for Pathankot Cong MLA in picking mayoral candidates

Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Pathankot, March 11

Pathankot Congress MLA Amit Vij has his hands full in trying to select the “right candidate with right credential with right caste” for the top three posts of Mayor, senior deputy Mayor and deputy Mayor.

The Congress has won 36 of the 50 wards. All eyes are now on the lawmaker as he remains busy in consulting various stakeholders before giving his final stamp of approval.

Insiders say Vij, a Khatri, is walking a tightrope as balancing the caste equations in this Hindu-dominated city has always been a dicey affair. The choice has narrowed down to five-time winner Panna Lal Bhatia and Gaurav Wadhera, both Khatris. “If seniority is the barometer, then Bhatia wins. If loyalty is the rule, then Wadhera will be the choice. But the problem for the MLA is that he cannot give the top two posts to people of the same caste. Here comes into play the candidature of first-time councillor Nitin Mahajan Laddi. He belongs to the politically powerful Mahajan community which has nearly 35,000 votes in the Assembly seat. With elections due early next year, Vij will not like to disappoint the Mahajans at any cost,” said a councillor.

The fact that Nitin won from a ward that includes the residence of state BJP president Ashwani Sharma too is not being overlooked. “He won by a margin of 1,150 votes which is considered to be an impressive one as far as the MC polls are concerned. Moreover, the BJP candidate had the full backing of Sharma following which Nitin’s win is seen as a big one,” said a councillor.

All three, Bhatia, Mahajan and Wadhera, are considered to be close to the MLA. There are ample indications that all three top posts — Mayor, senior deputy Mayor and deputy Mayor — will be bagged by the legislator’s men. However, as for yet, nothing is being finalised as the MLA is still busy trying figuring out “the right man with the right caste.” However, Vij refused to comment.