Capt in demand in state, not Sidhu: Asha Kumari
Monday, 29/04/2019
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CHANDIGARH: It is Punjab’s own edition of star wars. While state local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu is Congress’ star campaigner across the country, party in-charge for Punjab affairs Asha Kumari says it is chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh who is in demand in Punjab, not Sidhu.
“We are getting requests from all candidates. In Punjab, the demand is for Amarinder, not Sidhu. But all state ministers and MPs of Punjab will also be in the star campaigners’ list. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, too, will campaign in at least one segment each in all three areas of Malwa, Doaba and Majha,” she said.
But Lal Singh, veteran of many elections, who is heading the poll management committee of the Congress in Punjab, disagrees. “Sidhu is party’s star campaigner as he can pull crowds. Candidates from other states too are requesting his presence. He is in demand in Punjab too. But Amarinder is the main face of the campaign,” Lal Singh said.
He said Rahul is expected to address mega rallies in segments which are witnessing big fights such as Bathinda, where Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is seeking a re-election and Gurdaspur from where the BJP has fielded actor Sunny Deol against Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar.
“Punjab goes to polls in the last phase on May 19. So we will get confirmed dates and venues from Rahul’s office only after the campaigning ends for the sixth phase,” Lal Singh added.
Jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, whose Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat gave Jakhar a huge lead in the bypoll, says they do not need Bollywood stars to take on Sunny Deol.
“Sidhu is no less a celebrity. Unlike Deol, he knows Punjab’s issues and can speak on them. Unlike reel heroes, politicians are real heroes. There is a demand for Sidhu and we will get him to campaign against Deol,” Randhawa said.
Refusing to react to Asha Kumari’s statement, Sidhu said his rallies are being fixed by the office of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel.
“I go wherever he asks me to. If they want me to campaign in Punjab, I would. As for Sunny Deol, he is son of Dharam bhajji (Dharmendra), a legendary actor and is likely to get a warm welcome in any segment in Punjab. But the elections will be fought over local issues in the border district,” he said.
