Khadoor Sahib bypoll: Cong officially declares Sikki’s candidature
Tuesday, 26/01/2016
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
New Delhi : The Congress is all set to challenge Akalis in the crucial Khadoor Sahib Assembly bypoll to be held on February 13, with the party officially declaring the candidature of Ramanjit Singh Sikki for the contest.
The decision to field Sikki was taken on Saturday. Congress President Sonia Gandhi had approved his nomination on the recommendations of Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab campaign committee chief Ambika Soni and Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmad.
Official announcement was a mere formality as poll papers had been despatched to Sikki two days ago under Capt’s signatures.
The seat had fallen vacant recently after Sikki, a devout Sikh, had quit his MLA-ship to protest the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in his constituency last October.
The Congress was always up for the contest as it felt Sikki had gathered a position of moral high after resigning on an emotive religious issue.
“Canards were being spread that the Congress was not interested in the fight. This is our seat,” Shakeel Ahmad told The Tribune on Tuesday.
Sikki will challenge Akali Dal’s Ravinder Singh Brahmpura in Khadoor Sahib.
Capt Amarinder Singh will accompany him tomorrow for official filing of the nomination papers. Tomorrow is the last date for filing nominations.
The AAP is not contesting the seat, having suffered humiliating losses in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo bypolls earlier.
The Khadoor Sahib bypoll is significant, as it is being viewed as a marker of Punjab’s political mood ahead of 2017 state Assembly elections.
