Congress to give ticket on merit, not reference
Wednesday, 03/08/2016
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/politics/congress-to-give-ticket-on-merit-not-reference/275172.html
Chandigarh : The Punjab Congress has intensified its exercise to narrow down on the probable candidates with high “winability” profile.
The Congress high command has asked the state leadership to use different channels to shortlist candidates by September-end. The process could also include feedback from different frontal organisations and cells of the PPCC.
It is learnt that PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh is independently ascertaining the winability of the candidates. CLP Leader Charanjit Singh Channi is also getting an independent survey done. “The survey will play an important role in shortlisting the candidates,” he said.
“The names of at least 35 of sitting MLAs and 30 leaders who lost by low margin in the 2012 elections but are very popular in their respective areas are almost clear. The final decision will be taken by the election committee, comprising Amarinder and Channi and headed by AICC president Sonia Gandhi,” said a senior AICC functionary.
There are around 30 seats such as Shamchaurasi in Hoshiarpur, Adampur in Jalandhar, Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and two in Ludhiana from where the party is looking for suitable candidates.
Amarinder had earlier pointed out that in 2012, of 46 tickets allotted on the recommendation of leaders, the party could manage to win only six seats.
A senior leader said eight frontal organisations of the state unit engaged in conducting the door-to-door campaign would also sharing feedback with the senior leaders.
Amarinder opposes retrospective taxes
Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday opposed the Badal government’s move to impose retrospective taxes in the state, saying it was a punitive and regressive move. He promised one-time settlement for marriage palaces and other establishments that have been slapped with retrospective taxes. “Imposing retrospective taxes is not only punitive but regressive as well and amounts to extortion which the Akalis are resorting to,” he said while talking to a delegation of real estate dealers and marriage palace owners here on Tuesday.
