1,146 in fray for 117 Punjab seats

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

A total of 1,146 candidates have been left in fray for the February 4 election to the 117-member Punjab Vidhan Sabha, with 114 withdrawing their candidature. Today was the last day to opt out of the contest. A total of 1,078 candidates had contested the last election in 2012. 

Meanwhile, last-ditch efforts by Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh to pacify rebel candidates proved only half-successful. Denied ticket, close to 25 had announced to contest as Independents. 

However, what came as a sigh of relief for the top brass was the decision by prominent Congress leaders in Mansa, Ludhiana and Sangrur districts to withdraw their nominations on Saturday.  Gurpreet Kaur, daughter-in-law of former MLA Sher Singh Gagowal, and Satpal Mulewala, who contested on a Congress ticket in 2012, withdrew nominations from the Mansa and Budhlada seat, respectively.

Harpreet Kaur Barnala, daughter-in-law of former CM late Surjit Singh Barnala, and Gurmail Singh Pehlwan, aide of senior leader Manish Tewari, also withdrew in Dhuri and Ludhiana (East).

Rebels Gurprit Singh Vikki and Ayushi Sharma opted out from the Mansa contest.

The Doaba region, however, will remain a cause for concern for the Congress as prominent faces Tarlochan Soondh, Nimisha Mehta, Surinder Mahey and Gurbinder Atwal opted to contest from Banga, Garhshankar, Jalandhar (West) and Nakodar segments.

Similarly, Ashok Sharma and Naresh Puri,  son of former minister Raghunath Sahai Puri, also did not respond to appeals by Capt Amarinder to withdraw.

Sukhraj Singh Natt, contesting from Maur; Manjit Mann from Moga; Amarjit Singh Gharu from Ferozepur (Rural); Hem Raj Aggarwal from Ludhiana (North); Avtar Billa from Jagraon and Rajinder Deepa from Sunam also opted to stay in contest.

Meanwhile, Akali rebels Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar and Anupinder Kaur Sandhu also opted not to withdraw.

Senior BJP leader Master Mohan Lal also withdrew papers as a rebel candidate.