Congress relies on political families for Punjab polls
Monday, 26/12/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=170370&boxid=59364&uid=&dat=2016-12-26
Chandigarh : PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh might have been pitching for ‘one family one ticket rule’ but the reality is that family politics is quite visible in candidate selection process.
The selection process is still captured by dynasties and old war horses in Congress who have been pushing nominations either for themselves or their wards.
The first two list of Congress candidates for Punjab polls throws up several examples of how families continue to hold their sway in selection process.
While sitting MLA Preneet Kaur chose to step down from Patiala segment in favour of her husband and Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh, MLA Charanjit Kaur Bajwa too vacated her Qadian seat for her brother-in-law Fatehjang Bajwa. Fatehjang Bajwa is brother of former Punjab Congress chief and incumbent Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa.
Likewise, sitting MLA from Nawashahar Guriqbal Kaur Babli stepped down in favour of her son Angad Saini who bagged Congress ticket.
Another seat where the ticket has been retained within the family is Khem Karan, where Congress has nominated Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, younger son of Gurchet Singh Bhullar, a former MLA of Valtoha, as its candidate. Bhullar had been lobbying for this seat to go to his elder son instead.
From Kartarpur reserved segment, Congress has again banked on Surender Singh, son of deceased dalit leader Choudhry Jagjit Singh, as the candidate.
Akali MP Sher Singh Ghubaya’s son Devinder Ghubaya who joined Congress last week is also front runner of Congress ticket from Fazilka segment.
