Punjab: Congress forms strategy committee for by-elections

Punjab: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has constituted a strategy-cum-planning committee for the bypolls. The committee, headed by Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa, comprises former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, PPCC chief Amarinder Raja Waring, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Randhawa and former minister Vijay Inder Singla. A senior party leader said that the Congress is being forced to change its strategy as the SAD, rebel Akali group (Akali reform wave) and hardliners are not contesting the bypolls. Bajwa has already said that the move has been taken because of these groups’ agreement with the BJP. The Congress is particularly focusing on Gidderbaha and Dera Baba Nanak seats. PCC chief’s wife Amrita Waring is contesting from Gidderbaha and Randhawa’s wife Jatinder Kaur is in the fray from Dera Baba Nanak.

With Manpreet joining the BJP, Dimpy joining the AAP and Akalis not contesting, the four-cornered contest has now become a triangular one. A large chunk of Akali cadre votes may now be divided among non-Congress parties. We firmly believe that Akalis and rebel Akalis will help Manpreet in the election. In the reserved Chabbewal assembly constituency, the Congress is facing a challenge from AAP candidate Ishank Chabbewal, son of Hoshiarpur’s sitting MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal. Congress candidate Ranjit Kumar is in a weak position after opposition from Congress leader Kulwinder Singh Rasoolpur, who was working as the assembly constituency in-charge. Jagmeet withdraws nomination from Gidderbaha by-election Muktsar: Former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar on Wednesday withdrew his nomination from the Gidderbaha by-election. He had filed nomination as an independent candidate. Jagmeet said, “Money power will dominate this election and I do not want to do anything unethical.”