Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 4
All three contenders for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat — Jalandhar West MLA Sushil Rinku, former PPCC chief Mahinder Singh Kaypee and former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur — skipped the reception of Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh as he returned to his constituency after having been retained as the party candidate from the seat.
Chaudhary, who arrived by Shatabdi this morning, along with his wife Karamjot Kaur and son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary were welcomed by party leaders, including MLAs Rajinder Beri, Bawa Henry, Hardev S Laddi, Chaudhary Surinder Singh, former MLA Jagbir S Brar, Mayor Jagdish Raja, Senior Deputy Mayor Surinder Kaur, DCC chiefs Baldev Singh Dev and Sukhwinder Singh Lally. Deputy Mayor Harsimranjit S Bunty, who is an aide of Rinku, stayed away from the event.
After his reception, Chaudhary took a round of the city in an open jeep wherein supporters gathered on both sides of the road to take his glance.
He said he would sit with the dissenting leaders and take them all along with him.
Later, he, along with former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, appeared before the media to release the manifesto of the Congress where he was also joined by Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh.
Ashwani Kumar talked about various promises made by the party in the manifesto. He said though it was not a constitutional document, the party would be bound to implement it.
“We are well aware of the fact that any failure to get the promises fulfilled would lead us to the ‘people’s court’. This is our pledge to them that is why we have titled it, ‘Congress will deliver’,” he said.