Capt meets CPI leader for poll pact

Thursday, 29/12/2016

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/politics/capt-meets-cpi-leader-for-poll-pact/343142.html

New Delhi : Days after talks for a tie-up between the Congress and the CPI in Punjab failed, state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh met CPI’s national leaders in the Capital, triggering possibility of the revival of negotiation.

The meeting between Amarinder and CPI’s secretary D Raja was held at the former’s residence here and was also attended by Congress in charge for Punjab Asha Kumari.

Speaking to The Tribune later, Kumari described the meeting as “informal”, saying the two sides discussed general political situation in Punjab and possible ways for secular forces to work against the SAD-BJP government and “disruptive forces” such as AAP.

Kumari did not elaborate on whether the Congress and the CPI were once again considering working together through seat arrangement in the state. Talks between the two parties had earlier stalled after the Punjab unit of the CPI asked the Congress for seats when the latter though it had strong winning candidates. CPI sources said the ball was in the Congress’ court.

It is unclear whether today’s meeting between Amarinder and D Raja will bring any outcome, considering the Congress has announced 77 of 117 seats in Punjab and the declared lists feature some segments that the Punjab CPI leadership had earlier asked for.

Congress sources said the CPI in Punjab had been asking for seats such as Patiala and Mansa, which were a “no-go” zone for the Congress so far as a pre-poll tie-up goes.

D Raja admitted he met Amarinder and discussed the situation in the Punjab and possibilities of working together. He, however, indicated that chances of a tie-up appeared bleak, noting that the ball was in the Congress’ court.

Two Akali leaders back with Congress

Patiala: Two more Akali leaders on Wednesday joined the Punjab Congress in the presence of Capt Amarinder Singh in Delhi. The PPCC chief hailed the “homecoming” of Nabha stalwart Ramesh Singla, ex-MLA, and Municipal Councillor Ashok Bittu into the party fold. The two joined the Congress unconditionally in the presence of Nabha MLA Sadhu Singh Dharmsot. Singla, who joined SAD in 2014, is a former Congress MLA from Nabha. Bittu is a five-time time councillor from Nabha, who joined SAD in 2014.  TNS

BJP Yatra today

Chandigarh: The state BJP will kick off its poll campaign with a “Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra” at Hussainiwala from Thursday. State party secretary Vineet Joshi told the media here on Wednesday, “The yatra will cover all 23 segments where the party will be fielding its candidates before culminating in Amritsar on January 8.” After paying tributes at the martyrs’

memorial in Hussainiwala, the yatra will travel through cities and villages of Ferozepur and Fazilka and reach Rajpura on December 30. The second phase will start from January 3.