Manpreet challenge looms, MP pitches in for Singla

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 18

Old memories of bitter family feuds getting ever more intense during the elections have come alive with Union Minister of Food Processing and Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal taking command of fighting election at the Bathinda (Urban) seat against her brother in-law and Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal.

She has held many poll gatherings with SAD candidate Sarup Chand Singla and instructed party workers about the election strategy.

Harsimrat Badal held a meeting with Sarup Chand Singla yesterday and instructed the latter to bring back party rebels who have joined the Congress.

She said if rebels were not ready to return then, at least, they could be pursued not to seek votes for the Congress candidate.

In the last 15 days, many SAD-BJP leaders have left the party and joined the Congress.

These leaders include senior SAD leader Pirthipal Singh Jalal, former Municipal Council president Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, SAD district vice-president Chamkaur Mann, SAD circle president Ashwanu Bunty, SAD councillor Sukhwinder Kaur, BJP councillor Priyanka Goyal and former councillor Darshan Garg.

A close aide of Singla, Beopar Mandal president Rajinder Raju, Artiya Association president Satish Babbu, contractor Harish Garg and Mohinder Narula have also joined the Congress.

Recently, Harsimrat Badal held a meeting with SAD-BJP cocunillors and listened to their grievances.

Councillors raised various issues plaguing the party and alliance, including the issue of leaders being ignored.