Congress puts up united face as Bajwa, Dullo file nominations

Saturday, 12/03/2016

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/congress-puts-up-united-face-as-bajwa-dullo-file-nominations/207703.html

Chandigarh : Two former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) presidents, Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo, today filed their nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls amid an uneasy calm in the faction-ridden PPCC.

With less than a year to go for the Assembly elections, the decision to give Rajya Sabha berths to these two leaders has dealt a double blow to state party president Capt Amarinder Singh. Sources in the Congress said that by ignoring the names suggested by Amarinder, and instead choosing his political adversaries, the party had not only undermined his authority but also created a sharp division within his camp.  

In a bid to project a united face prior to the filing of nomination papers in the Vidhan Sabha secretariat, Congress general secretary incharge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmad and AICC secretary Harish Choudhry cut a cake to celebrate Amarinder’s birthday.  

Claiming that all was well in the Congress camp, Ahmad and Amarinder said some names were recommended to the party high command, adding that the latter’s decision was final and acceptable to all. Since late last evening, hectic parleys had been on to make Sunil Jakhar contest as an Independent candidate, it is learnt.  

A group of MLAs, mostly from the Amarinder camp, reportedly approached Jakhar and tried to convince him (though unsuccessfully) to contest as an Independent Rajya Sabha member. This morning, these MLAs were learnt to have landed at his residence, while assuring him that they would get the requisite 10 members– from both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal — to propose his nomination.  

Sources said the PPCC chief and Bajwa took the initiative to pacify Jakhar before the filing of papers.  

Bajwa, after filing his papers, called for party discipline and respect for the high command’s decision, with a special reference to Hans Raj Hans, who missed out on a nomination. “I faced a similar situation when I was replaced as the PPCC President. I remained patient and disciplined. My efforts have been acknowledged,” he said.  

It is learnt that the names of Jakhar had been recommended, along with those of Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibal and Hans Raj Hans. CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, in his communication to the party high command, had sought that one of the candidates from the SC category be considered.