Jakhar draws up ‘victory plan’

Wednesday, 03/04/2019

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/jakhar-draws-up-victory-plan/752273.html

Gurdaspur :There were no unexpected twists or turns to the political script as sitting MP Sunil Jakhar’s candidature from the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat was cleared by the Central Election Committee thereby nipping in the bud the aspirations of Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa to contest for a second term.

Bajwa has remained an MP from the constituency from 2009-2014. In the 2017 bypoll, necessitated by the death of Vinod Khanna of the BJP, Bajwa wanted the ticket for his wife Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, who was an MLA from Qadian from 2012 to 2017.

Sources claim Bajwa had used every trick in the book to remain in contention till the last minute despite knowing that the Congress high command had only Jakhar in mind, particularly after his massive 1.93 lakh victory in the byelection. Also in contention was Amardeep Singh Cheema, Chairman of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC).

 With the BJP split into various groups and sub-groups, the Gurdaspur seat is considered to be one of the safest in Punjab for the Congress.

Observers claim the MP is unlikely to face any dissension in any of the nine Assembly seats this constituency has (Sujanpur, Bhoa (SC), Pathankot,  Gurdaspur, Dina Nagar (SC), Qadian, Batala, Fatehgarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak). Moreover, he has the backing of all seven sitting legislators.

His election managers have already drawn up an elaborate plan in which they hope to secure the maximum number of votes from Dera Baba Nanak, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fatehgarh Churian and Qadian Assembly segments.

In Dera Baba Nanak, Jakhar hopes to ride on the wave generated by the Kartarpur corridor initiative. Observers say the developmental works started by Cabinet minister and legislator Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, including the establishing of the degree college in Kalanaur and making optimum use of the 1,200 acre of panchayat land lying vacant in Kalanaur, will hold Jakhar in good stead.

The Congress secured a 44,000 lead from this seat in the byelection despite the fact that then the Kartarpur corridor was never an election issue.

“Jakhar and Randhawa are trying to bring in a big ticket railway project to Kalanaur. If the Congress manages to impress upon the voters its utility in terms of the jobs it will be generating, the party will enjoy a runaway victory,” says a BJP leader.

In Qadian, where the SAD stands decimated following Sewa Singh Sekhwan’s decision to part ways with his parent party, the Congress expects to notch up a sizeable lead.

In Pathankot, the MP made his presence felt along with CM Amarinder Singh at the inauguration ceremony of the Rs 1,000-crore Pepsico bottling plant earlier this month.

“The MP knew the political significance of the plant which is likely to revitalise the town’s economy. Like the Kartarpur corridor, it is a vote-spinning venture. That is why he ensured his presence the day it was inaugurated,” maintained a senior leader.

In Gurdaspur, where the party is divided into two factions, one led by MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra and the other by Chairman of the PSSSB Raman Bahl, Jakhar will have it easy as he enjoys the support of both the groups. Raman’s father former minister Kushal Bahl and Jakhar’s father Balram Jakhar, were close associates.

Driving home advantage

• In Dera Baba Nanak, Jakhar hopes to ride on the wave generated by the Kartarpur corridor initiative.
  
• In Qadian, Sewa Singh Sekhwan’s decision to part ways with the Akali Dal will help him notch up a sizeable lead
  
• In Pathankot, the MP made his presence felt along with CM Amarinder Singh at the inauguration ceremony of the Rs 1,000-crore Pepsico bottling plant earlier this month
  
• In Gurdaspur, where the party is divided into two factions, Jakhar will have it easy as he enjoys the support of both the groups
  
• In Fatehgarh Churian, where Cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa’s writ runs large, the party expects to secure a decent lead