Follow Us
From Our Special Correspondent
CHANDIGARH, May 28
Mr Chandra Shekhar, the Janata Party Chairman, today regretted that women had been ignored in the nomination of party candidates in Punjab. He, however, assured pressmen that this had not been done deliberately.
Arriving here this morning at the beginning of the Party’s election campaign in Punjab, Mr Chandra Shekhar said: “We do not claim infallibility. Some mistakes might have occurred in the selection of the Janata Party candidates. We faced a far more complex task than the Congress ever did in its history. Not only was the number of applicants large, they were most insistent because the Lok Sabha results had raised their hopes. Some discontent was therefore natural.”
Click here for a larger view of The Tribune Page 1 published on May 28, 1977
He hastened to add: “Despite mistakes, it is not possible to change Party nominees when the symbols have been allotted. No party can function without some sort of discipline. Party workers must, therefore, work for the officially nominated candidates.”
Part VI Election series : Punjab Assembly Elections — 1977
Mr Chandra Shekhar agreed that changes could be made in some isolated cases, but he ruled out any large-scale changes.
He reiterated that rebels, even if elected, would not be admitted into the Party. He was confident that the electorate would reject those who defied the party’s directive. In this country, he said, the electorate never encouraged those who first sought a Party ticket, but on denial opposed the official nominee.
He did not visualise any contingency in which the Janata Party might need the help of elected rebel candidates to form the Government in any State.
Mr Chandra Shekhar rated the Janata Party’s prospects in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha poll as “very good.” He admitted that the Janata wave had abated to some extent, but said: “The electorate’s faith in the Janata Paty has in no way dwindled. The wave was a revolt against the oppression and suppression during the emergency. It is humanly impossible to sustain such a wave forever. Of course, the expression of people’s response now is different but it does not mean that people in general are angry with the Janata Party.”
Asked about Mr Morarji Desai’s advice to Akalis, the Janata Party chief said the relation between the two parties was cordial and they were --- with each other.
“It would be still better if we can come closer together. Maybe, this happens in the future,” he said any decision about merger would have to be taken by the Akali leadership at a time they thought proper.
9