Yet another Samra-Atwal tussle

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service 

Jalandhar, August 25

Competition among ticket contenders within the parties has set in ahead of the elections. Now, former minister Amarjit Singh Samra has raked up his four-year-old complaint against former MLA Gurbinder Singh Atwal of allegedly seeking money for withdrawing papers as an independent candidate from Nakodar Assembly segment in 2012. 

The issue is emerging again since there have been reports of Atwal applying from the Nakodar constituency which Samra has represented four times in a row. Samra lost in 2012 and put the entire onus on Atwal for "indulging in anti-party activities". Samra personally met new party in charge Asha Kumari in Delhi on August 5 in this regard while his supporters had put in their point during her visit to the city a fortnight ago.

Atwal has twice represented Nurmahal seat, which got merged with Nakodar, Phillaur, Shahkot and Jalandhar Cantonment seats. His close aide Rajinder Singh Johal said, "The matter has finished and I do not think the complaint carries any weight now. The new PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh even appointed him in the executive recently".

However, Samra continues to maintain his stand. "If the party does not act against people who have created indiscipline earlier, there will be no deterrent against party members. The ruling party leaders will continue to use our men against us."

Samra has the support of Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, who too has alleged that “he lost from Phillaur Assembly segment in 2012 by 31 votes primarily because Atwal personally persuaded his supporters to vote in favour of BSP candidate”. 

The then BSP candidate is now SAD constituency in charge Baldev Khera.