Tewari assured of MLAs’ support from Ludhiana
Thursday, 20/03/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140320/punjab.htm#6
Chandigarh : Having been assured of support from three Congress MLAs of Ludhiana, MP Manish Tewari has decided to throw his hat in the ring. The sources said that Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa played a key role in convincing Tewari to re-contest his seat. Tewari had been apprehensive that the three Congress MLAs from Ludhiana could work against him.
As the Congress considers Ludhiana a safe seat, it was Bajwa’s leadership that was being questioned. Already, senior Congress leaders, including MLAs, have defected to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Bajwa reportedly assured Tewari that all three MLAs would support him. He took an MLA and the latter's supporters to Delhi for a meeting with the MP. It was only then Tewari agreed to contest the elections. Bajwa said it was his duty as party president to bring all heads together before the crucial elections.
Tewari was more keen on contesting the Chandigarh seat. Supported by Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, Tewari was being touted as the party choice for Chandigarh, if the sitting MP and former Railway Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal, was chargesheeted in the Railgate scam.
Tewari had earlier expressed his reluctance to contest the poll on account of ill-health. Highly placed sources in the Congress said a formal announcement on his candidature would be made by the week-end.
Bajwa’s role
The PPCC chief, Partap Singh Bajwa, played a key role in convincing Manish Tewari (in pic) to re-contest the Ludhiana seat
He assured Tewari that all three Cong MLAs from Ludhiana would support him
Bajwa took an MLA and the latter's supporters to Delhi for a meeting with the MP
Tewari decide to re-run for the elections after that
