Another 8 named by Cong for Punjab

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 13

Amid reports that the Congress may field big names, such as Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu,  against the Badals, the party today named eight more candidates for the Punjab elections even as it changed nominees for two constituencies in the face of rising rebellion.

Tejinder Bittu, Congress candidate from Jalandhar North, has been replaced with former MLA Rajkumar Gupta, while sitting Jaito MLA Joginder Panjgraian has been fielded from Bhadaur (reserved) in place of Nirmal Nimma. Panjgraian had threatened to revolt after his  Jaito seat was given to Mohammad Sadique, sitting MLA from Bhadaur. 

In Jalandhar North, the Congress succumbed to rebellion led by former minister Avtar Henry. He wanted the seat for his son. Sources said the Congress is considering fielding Bittu against CM Parkash Singh Badal in Lambi and that AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi is discussing names of other sitting and former MPs and ministers to be fielded in VIP segments. When contacted, Bittu said: “I am willing to fight from anywhere the Congress vice-president asks me to.”

The party has fielded former MLA Lov Kumar Goldy from Garhshankar. Nimisha Mehta too was a contender for the seat. She had Congress Legislature Party leader CS Channi’s backing, but Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh favoured Goldy. The party has opted for Sunil Datti in Amritsar North, ignoring the claim of Punjab women’s wing chief Mamata Datta.

The Sujanpur seat, for which the Congress central election committee had earlier approved the name of Naresh Puri, has now been allotted to Amit Manto, a candidate backed by Congress state incharge Asha Kumari and former PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa.

Puri may cause trouble. Denied ticket, he had in 2012 contested as an Independent, garnering more votes than the official nominee. He may run as a rebel again. 

In Pathankot, Ashok Sharma's claim has been ignored in favour of newcomer Amit Vij. Sharma may rebel too. Punjabi singer Satwinder Bitti has been fielded from Sahnewal. She is likely to face fierce resistance by the local cadres. Other candidates in the fourth Congress list are Harvinder Laddi (Shahkot), Sushil Kumar Rinku (Jalandhar West), Barinder Dhillon (Rupnagar) and Geja Ram (Jagraon).

The Congress has now announced candidates for 108 of the total 117seats. It has withheld tricky seats like Amritsar East which may be given to Navjot Sidhu, Amritsar South where former Akali leader Inderbir Molaria is likely to get the nomination, Jalandhar Cantt and Nakodar (Olympian Pargat Singh may be fielded from either of the seats), and Mansa. Amarinder's confidant BIS Chahal wants the Mansa seat for his son.