BJP ticket for Joshi, Mittal dropped

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Chandigarh, Jan 16

The BJP today ended suspense over its candidates for seats occupied by four of its ministers in the current Punjab Vidhan Sabha by giving ticket to two, while fielding a son of another minister. The names were withheld after the first announcement by party’s central election committee (CEC) on January 12.

CEC secretary JP Nadda announced Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi as the candidate from Amritsar North and Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani from Ferozepur. Mohinder Bhagat, son of Minister for Forests Chunni Lal Bhagat, has been fielded from Jalandhar West. The only sitting minister to be replaced is Anandpur Sahib MLA Madan Mohan Mittal, who makes way for Dr Parminder Sharma, chairman of the District Planning Board. The decision was taken following detailed discussions, said Nadda.

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The party also decided to re-field Phagwara MLA Som Parkash and Jalandhar Central MLA Manoranjan Kalia. With this, the party has announced all 23 of 117 candidates in its quota with the Akali Dal.

Sources had earlier indicated that the high command had taken note of inputs about “dissatisfactory” work by ministers, particularly their failure to assert the party’s position in the alliance.