…Signs of rebellion already in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 4

With the Congress still weighing Punjab election nominees in 40 seats, turbulence is building across constituencies in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar with party cadres awaiting the final list with baited breath.

There are possibilities of rebels emerging in many of these seats. In Ludhiana where sitting MP Ravneet Bittu and ex-MP Manish Tewari have competing political interests, the ground for Congress remains uneven.

There is likely to be a backlash in Jagraon where Malkiat Singh Dakha, former personal assistant of ex-CM Beant Singh, is a frontrunner among Congress candidates. Local party leaders are debating options of fielding an Independent if their interests are not watched. In Gill reserved segment, a local Congress SC leader is considering an Independent contest protesting the naming of ex-bureaucrat Kuldeep Vaid. In Ludhiana West, sitting MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu may have troubles if the Congress denies ticket to another sitting MLA Rakesh Pande, currently representing Ludhiana North. Pande could contest Ludhiana West if denied ticket, a possibility which the Congress is debating.

In Amritsar South, Congress leader JS Dimpa wants a ticket even though sitting MLA Inderbir Bolaria, a former Akali, was recently brought into the party fold by PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh. Dimpa has been lobbying hard for this seat, saying Bolaria was an “outsider”. In Amritsar East which Congress has left for Navjot Sidhu and his wife, who is sitting MLA, senior Congress leader and ticket hopeful Sunil Datti is learnt to be very upset. 

Jalandhar district is witnessing similar tensions with Phillaur being sought by three leaders — Vikram Choudhry, the son of Congress MP Santokh Choudhry; ex-Akali minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur who recently joined the Congress and Congress’ Banga MLA Tejinder Soondh, whose ticket was recently cut. 

Ravneet Bittu vs Manish Tewari in Ludhiana

Ludhiana East remains a tricky seat. If Congress decides against fielding Manish Tewari, his supporter Gurmail Pehalwan, who contested last time and lost marginally, may have other plans. MP Ravneet Bittu is resisting Tewari’s candidature in Ludhiana. A similar story is unfolding in Sahnewal where Congress stopped the declaration of singer Satwinder Bitti as the party nominee in the last list when it announced 16 candidates. Local leaders are opposing Bitti.