RS seat: Capt meets Sonia, bats for Jakhar
Wednesday, 09/03/2016
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/politics/rs-seat-capt-meets-sonia-bats-for-jakhar/206515.html
New Delhi : Former Punjab Chief Minister and Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today met party chief Sonia Gandhi ahead of finalisation of candidates to be nominated from the state to the Rajya Sabha as the term of incumbent members draws to an end.
Capt Amarinder is learnt to have batted in the meeting for his long-time loyalist and former Punjab Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar, who was removed as the CLP leader when Partap Singh Bajwa was replaced as the state unit chief with Amarinder.
Sources in the party said while Amarinder has backed Jakhar, the other name in contention is that of Bajwa, with the party in a mood to accommodate him after he was asked to resign from the state presidentship.
The party is expected to have a Hindu, Dalit and a Jat Sikh leader in the Upper House where Ambika Soni is already serving. Her term expires in July. In the Dalit category, the names of SS Dullo and Raj Kumar Verka have been doing the rounds.
Some leaders said former union ministers Pawan Bansal and Kapil Sibal may also be considered from Punjab provided the party decides to consider outsiders ahead of state polls. The terms of incumbent RS members Ashwani Kumar and MS Gill are ending on April 2.
