Cong candidates lobbying for berths already!
Saturday, 04/02/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120204/punjab.htm#6
The poll results may be a month away but it is a virtual ‘mela’ at PPC chief Capt Amarinder Singh’s residence here. Congress candidates hopeful of a victory have started lobbying for Cabinet berths. Even bureaucrats are veering towards the PCC president.
Amarinder has been meeting everyone with his close aides Arvind Khanna and Kushaldeep Dhillon facilitating the meetings. He has been busy hosting and attending dinners. While the PCC chief held a dinner for his core team of 20 persons and their spouses two days back, Barnala legislator Kewal Dhillon hosted a dinner for him yesterday.
After dinner by former MP Rana Gurjeet Singh, the PCC chief is scheduled to attend Lohri celebrations at the Gymkhana Club in Patiala tomorrow. Senior leaders are looking upon the dinners as a show of strength.
Sources say lobbying has begun for ministries with informal exit polls conducted by the party showing that senior leaders may lose their seats. Young turks like Sunil Jakhar, Jassi Khangura, Sukhpal Khaira, OP Soni, Kewal Dhillon and Jasbir Dimpa are putting forth their claim to ministership. Others hoping for berths are Rana Gurmeet Sodhi from Guruharsahai.
Among Hindu candidates, Arvind Khanna is likely to get an important place in the government. Supporters of Ashwani Sekhri from Batala feel that he too should get his due.
Sources say that Amarinder has gone through the gradation list of both IAS and IPS officers in the state. They say a senior IAS officer posted in Delhi, who came to the state for a short period during the SAD-BJP rule, is among the top contenders for the Chief Secretary’s post. Former officers in the CM’s office during Amarinder’s tenure may also stage a comeback. Sources say though the PCC chief is meeting everyone, he is likely to go by merit if given a chance to form government. They say Amarinder, who completely trusted people in the past, has learnt to be more cautious now.
