BIR DEVINDER EYES CONG ASSEMBLY POLL TICKET
Wednesday, 23/09/2015
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PATIALA: Former Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker and senior Congress leader Bir Devinder Singh on Tuesday began his month-long programme to connect with the partymen in Ghanaur assembly constituency.
This is being widely interpreted as his way of staking claim to a ticket for the 2017 assembly elections. Sources said Bir Devinder has staked claim for a Cong ticket to the seat with the backing of senior party leader Lal Singh, who is also in the reckoning for the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.
Interestingly, Patiala royal family Protégé and former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur is also eyeing a Congress ticket. Anu Randhawa, daughter of former minister jasjit Singh Randhawa, is also active after demise of his father, who had represented this seat twice in the assembly.
Bir Devinder said, “The Ghanaur seat is open as there in no culture of setting up a constituency in-charge in the Congress. The party president decides on the tickets.”
Before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Bir Devinder had rejoined the Congress, which he had left for the People’s Party of Punjab. In spite of several attempts, Madan Lal Jalalpur could not be contacted for comments.
