Punjab: Congress poll panel for one family, one ticket; first list of nominees soon

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 23

In a setback for Punjab Congress leaders who are planning to field their family members in the state Assembly elections, the AICC-appointed screening committee has decided to stick to “one family, one ticket” norm. Besides, there will be no swapping of seats between sitting legislators.

Move may affect kin of many leaders

• One family, one ticket policy is set to block chances of many aspirants
• Prominent among them is CM Charanjit Channi’s brother Dr Manohar Singh, who is keen on contesting from Bassi Pathana
• Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet wants to field his son from Sultanpur Lodhi
• MP Partap Bajwa is eyeing Qadian by replacing his brother and MLA Fateh Jung
• Senior leaders Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Brahm Mohindra also want to field their sons

A wider consensus on the matter was arrived at a meeting of the committee chaired by AICC general secretary Ajay Maken late last evening. PPCC chief Navjot Sidhu is learnt to have stressed upon the party top brass to stick to “one family, one ticket” norm.

Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary told The Tribune that a decision in this regard had been taken.

CM Charanjit Singh Channi and Sidhu were present in the meeting. Sources said clarity had been achieved on nearly 90 of the 117 seats.

“The party conducted multiple surveys to work out the winnability of the aspirants. It is found that some ministers are in a comfortable winning position,” a leader said.

The sources said after a meeting of the central election committee, expected next week, the first list of 30-35 candidates was likely to be announced. Another meeting of the screening panel will be held tomorrow.