Now, Bajwa and Amarinder factions spar over Qadian turf

He had also unsuccessfully contested from the seat in 2007 elections.

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To add to this, his father, Gurbachan Singh Bajwa, has also been a legislator from Qadian.

Bajwa, who was recently nominated to Rajya Sabha, has already started strengthening his constituency and is camping in Qadian. “I would like Fateh to contest from here,” he said.

Amid reports that other MLAs too were eyeing this seat, Bajwa has shot off a letter to AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi that any sitting MLA, who wants to switch his constituency should not be given the party ticket.

“If any sitting MLA is seeking to move out from his constituency, that indicates that he fears losing and that he has not nurtured his constituency.

He has cheated on his electors,” said Bajwa.

Bajwa was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha from Kahnuwan in 1992, 2002 and 2007. In 2009, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency. His wife had defeated former minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan with a margin of 17,000 votes, said to be the maximum among women candidates of the party.

Both Bajwa and Tripat are considered rivals within the party with their rivalry dating back to the time of their fathers.

With Tripat being close to Amarinder, the Majha brigade would not leave any stone unturned to impress upon Captain to get him the seat of his choice.

On the other hand, Bajwa, a protege of Rahul, would not make it easy for Tripat to stake a claim on Qadian. The issue could result in fireworks between both the factions yet again, months after Amarinder’s bid to bury the hatchet with Bajwa.