Amarinder our best bet for 2017 elections, says Jakhar

Former Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar feels Captain Amarinder Singh is the best bet for his party in the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab. He has recently been appointed the vice-president and chief spokesperson of Punjab Congress.
How do you see the recent changes in the Punjab Congress and what is your assessment of the party's prospects in the next elections?
The Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) reposed faith in Captain Amarinder Singh when she asked him to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha election against BJP's Arun Jaitley from Amritsar.Now again, she and Rahul Gandhi have reaffirmed their confidence in asking him to take charge (of Punjab Congress) at the eleventh hour. They realise his potential as a General who can deliver in a war. He did so in Amritsar and we believe in him now. Moreover, it is not just the Congress workers but people of Punjab at large who look upto Captain and he has to honour this sentiment by delivering against odds.
Any suggestions on how Congress can best approach the election by not repeating past mistakes?
I personally feel conflict of interest in so many assembly segments has been there all along. It was there even when Partap Singh Bajwa was at the helm. It was actually a key factor that was exploited by Sukhbir Badal in the last 2012 assembly election against Congress. Even though Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) presidents have changed but people in the party whose job was to be arbitrators or act as referees have not tackled this. During the last four years, they have left most of these issues unaddressed and focusing on trivial issues instead.
There has been talk of announcing tickets six months before elections. Do you agree with it?
I think the candidates can be informed informally by the party leadership so that they hit the ground but publicly announcing the candidates so early before the election may to be a very workable idea for the party.
You have been at the forefront in raising the issue of food grains, seeking a vigilance case. Do you buy state government's claims?
Whatever clarifications Chief Minister Parkash Singh might give with his advertisements or his gimmicks on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the basic question that farmers of the state are asking is that where is the money. The last payment to farmers was on 21st of last month and 50 per cent of their dues are yet to be paid. Either Badal government should come up with a more logical answer or admit before the people that Modi government at the Centre is anti-farmer.