Clout of heavyweights: state Congress leaders hold sway

The tug-of-war over seats for Punjab polls was as much between the party heavyweights from Punjab,both at the Centre and state,as among Congress contenders.

The tug-of-war over seats for Punjab polls was as much between the party heavyweights from Punjab,both at the Centre and state,as among Congress contenders. Almost all had their list of confidants though not all were successful in clinching seats for their A-listers. In the end,between state leaders and those important at the Centre,it was the former – Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal who were able to call the shots.

Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla,known to be close to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi,is learnt to have submitted a list of 13 names for youth candidates. None were included in the list of 114 released on Thursday as Rahul chose to follow his own pattern of selection. The four names submitted by Union Minister Ashwani Kumar too did not make it to the list. Another Union minister,Preneet Kaur,who had a list of half-a-dozen names had to satisfy with just one – that of her son Raninder Singh. Her other candidate – Deep Dhillon – could not bag the Dera Bassi seat even after much pull and push.

Congress Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari who was strongly recommending two names could secure just one – of Ashok Parashar Pappi from Ludhiana south. But was not able to get any for close aide Pawan Dewan from among the 14 seats in the district. The family interest of MP Ravneet Bittu,grandson of former CM Beant Singh,was taken care of with cousin Gurkirat bagging the Khanna seat smoothly after Gurkirats father and sitting MLA Tej Prakash opted out of the race. Though there were initially four contenders from the former CMs family,the number now is down to one.

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Between the state power centres,Bhattals will prevailed over seats she was adamant to secure leaving Amarinder the privilege to choose from among the rest. Bhattals suggestion of not disturbing sitting MLAs from general seats ensured tickets for all her confidants – Surinderpal Sibia from Sangrur,Amarinders close confidant and former Sangrur MLA Arvind Khanna had to contend with Dhuri,and Faridkot for Avtar Brar. She also managed to get Sahnewal for son-in-law Vikram Bajwa. That her brother,sitting Dhanaula MLA Kuldeep Bhattal who wanted to opt out to make room for son,Gurvir,got none,is not much of a bother for her.

Interestingly,Amarinder had competition even within home with wife Preneet having her own wishlist and surprising many by throwing in son Raninder in the race for tickets. Though she could not get Patiala rural for son,Samana is not bad either. But her luck ran out with close aide Deepinder Dhillon not being able to get Dera Bassi.

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Clout of heavyweights: state Congress leaders hold sway

The tug-of-war over seats for Punjab polls was as much between the party heavyweights from Punjab,both at the Centre and state,as among Congress contenders.

Clout of heavyweights: state Congress leaders hold sway