Hindu vs Sikh, outsider vs local: Congress slugfest on
State incharge Asha Kumari calls up area legislators, other local leaders, workers for feedback; final call by CM, Jakhar
STATE MINISTER TRIPT RAJINDER BAJWA AND RS MEMBER PARTAP BAJWA, BOTH JAT SIKHS, WANT TICKET FOR KIN; JAKHAR HINDU OPTION
CHANDIGARH: It appears the Congress loves to warm up for a poll battle in Punjab with an internal war over tickets first. The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll — set for October 11 — is no different. Though the seat was held by the BJP’s Vinod Khanna, who passed away in April, the Congress is hopeful of clinching it, being the party in power in the state.
For now, its leaders in Majha region — where the party factions are most volatile — have drawn the battlelines over local versus outsider candidate, and Hindu versus Sikh. Both rural development minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, who earlier represented Gurdaspur in the Lok Sabha, want the ticket for their kin. Both are Jat Sikhs. To rule out the possibility of Partap’s wife Charanjit Kaur bagging it, MLAs from Gurdaspur opposed to him have propped up the name of state Congress president Sunil Jakhar, a Hindu leader who belongs to Abohar in southern Malwa region’s Fazilka district.
But Partap’s brother, Qadian MLA Fateh Jang Bajwa, has stirred a debate by seeking a local candidate. And it continues to rage on. “I will welcome Jakhar’s candidature as he is our state chief. But the message to the people should not go that the party does not have a local candidate. I will abide by whoever the party leadership decides to field,” Fateh told HT.
Some of those whom Partap got tickets during the state polls are also backing the argument. “I have asked workers, and they feel there should be no parachute candidate. I have given the feedback to AICC (All India Congress Committee) general secretary in-charge of Punjab, Asha Kumari. Charanjit Kaur Bajwa enjoys a connect with women voters too,” said Amit Singh Manta, the Congress’ assembly nominee who lost from Sujanpur this year. Though Pathankot MLA Amit Vij and Bhoa MLA Joginder Singh, too, are seen as Partap’s proteges, they have chosen to stay mum. Even some known Bajwabaiters, who want to be rehabilitated, are endorsing his stand. Former minister Raman Bhalla, who failed to get the ticket for Pathankot assembly seat, says fielding an outsider will dent the party’s chances, and puts his own hand up too. “It’s not about whether a Sikh is chosen or a Hindu. The candidate should have roots in Gurdaspur. I too am willing to contest,” he said.
Asha Kumari, when contacted, said she has taken feedback from not just MPs, MLAs, local leaders and office-bearers, but also from workers. “At times, leaders can have their own interests in supporting a candidate. But the workers know the people’s pulse. I will give my feedback to chief minister Captain Amartinder Singh, who is expected to be back from the UK on Saturday, and to Sunil Jakhar, when I meet them both tomorrow. The final call will be taken by them and I will convey that to party president Sonia Gandhi,” she said.
Jakhar, who lost the assembly contest this time after three consecutive wins, apparently does not want to take the plunge when his own house looks divided. But he insisted, “It’s not like one camp in the party is challenging the other. Everyone has a right to give their opinion and it would be considered before we decide on the candidate.” Finally though, it may depend on whether or not Jakhar bites the bullet.