Khadoor Sahib bypoll: Cong in a fix as Sikki not keen on contesting

Wednesday, 20/01/2016

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

TARN TARAN: Even as nominations for the Khadoor Sahib bypoll will begin from Wednesday, the Congress is in a fix as its potential candidate Ramanjit Sikki has shown his reluctance to fight the election.

Sikki, who had resigned as MLA to protest against sacrilege incidents in Tarn Taran, has told state party chief Captain Amarinder Singh that he wants to opt out of the contest. The bypoll is slated for February 13.

Sikki told Captain that issues over which he quit remain unresolved and he would not like to be seen contesting to return to the assembly as MLA, sources close to him revealed.

Even as the ruling SAD is all geared up for the polls, Sikki has been staying at the Golden Temple to perform ‘sewa’— a ritual he performs every year in January. For more than two weeks, his cell phone has been switched off and he is not taking calls of mediapersons. He was the party’s best bet to reclaim the seat he had “sacrificed” after defeating Akali stalwart Ranjit Singh Brahmpura in the 2012 polls. Since Sikki had resigned on highly emotive issue, the Congress was banking on his ‘Panthic’ appeal in the Sikh-dominated seat to romp home.

However, Sikki’s reluctance to contest has given a push to a section within the Congress that has been advocating poll boycott. “The Aam Aadmi Party is also not contesting as it wants to concentrate on the bigger battle in 2017. The Akalis will try to win the bypoll by misusing official machinery. Why should the Congress let them get a morale booster a few months before the state elections? They will trumpet it as sign of their popularity and Congress downslide,” a senior party leader said.

SIKKI’S RELUCTANCE AN AFTERTHOUGHT?
Sikki’s reluctance to contest seems to be an afterthought. After the Election Commission of India (ECI) had declared the seat vacant, Sikki had held a meeting with his supporters at Khadoor Sahib and expressed willingness to contest the elections for his ‘sangat’.

However, leaders of ruling SAD and his rivals within the party, including former Khadoor Sahib market committee chairman Bhupinder Singh Bittu, had questioned his move to contest the polls again saying, “Why had he resigned from the post, if he again wants to be elected?”

A final decision on the candidate and whether the party will contest the elections will be taken by Amarinder after speaking to the party high command within a day or two. But many party MLAs and leaders are opposing the boycott tooth and nail saying it will mean the Congress has conceded defeat even before the contest.

“Why should we shy away from a contest? Do we want the people of Punjab to think we are cowards and incapable of saving even a won seat,” said an MLA.