Punjab Poll 2022 1st list: Bid to iron out differences in Congress party

Rajmeet Singh

Chandigarh, January 14

The Congress is yet to announce its first list of candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections. Sources say differences persist among members of the AICC-appointed screening committee, which held two back-to-back meetings on Friday in a bid to reach a consensus on certain seats.

Ropar, Kharar, Dera Bassi, Garhshankar, Sujanpur, Balachaur, Khemkaran and Sunam are among these.

Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary is said to be supporting the candidature of Deepinder Dhillon from Dera Bassi while Pradesh Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is keen on fielding Youth Congress leader Amit Bawa Saini. In Ropar, Channi is reportedly opposed to the candidature of Barinder Dhillon but he has the backing of the Punjab affairs in-charge. In Garshankar, the CM is keen on fielding Namisha Mehta whereas former Pradesh Congress chief Sunil Jakhar is supporting Amarpreet Lally’s candidature. A report from Delhi said CM Channi was keen on securing the party ticket for his brother Manohar Singh from Bassi Pathana.The latter had earlier resigned as Senior Medical Officer at Kharar Civil Hospital to concentrate on Bassi Pathana.

Likewise, Fateh Jung Bajwa, the sitting Qadian MLA and brother of Partap Bajwa, could be fielded from another seat. Fateh Jung, who joined the BJP recently, is open to returning to the Congress, if allotted a seat. The party is debating candidates for Lambi, Patiala and Jalalabad.

Folowing differences of opinion over the first list of candidates, party president Sonia Gandhi has asked the Punjab screening committee led by Ajay Maken to hold a review and suggest potential candidates.

Also, party leaders are gauging the opposition from other aspirants to the candidature of Bollywood actor Sonu Sood’s sister Malvika Sood from Moga and Sidhu Moosewala from Mansa.

There have been protests by Mansa MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia and others.

No consensus on…

• Ropar, Kharar, Dera Bassi, Garhshankar, Sujanpur, Balachaur, Khemkaran and Sunam constituencies
• Dera Bassi: Harish Chaudhary supporting Deepinder Dhillon, Sidhu Amit Bawa Saini
• Ropar: Channi opposed to candidature of Barinder Dhillon but he is backed by Harish Chaudhary
• Garhshankar: Chief Minister keen on fielding Namisha Mehta, Jakhar supporting Amarpreet Lally
• Party gauging opposition to candidature of Malvika from Moga & Moosewala from Mansa