Has congress surrendered before Capt Amarinder in Patiala? Patiala seat turns from hot to interesting
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Today evening congress party has finally announced its party candidate from Patiala.
Congress has fielded turncoat, weak leader Vishnu Sharma against heavyweight leader and former chief minister of Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh from Patiala. Vishnu is not active in local politics, for the last many years. He is going to depend upon local party cadre and Congress government achievements .
Once a hot seat, Patiala urban turns into an interesting seat as a former chief minister is going to face three councilors and all of these three are contesting their election for the first time. Out of these three-two are former mayors-Vishnu Sharma (Congress), Ajitpal singh Kohli (AAP candidate) and a councilor Harpal Juneja (shiromani akali dai).
Aam admi party candidate from Patiala (Urban) Ajitpal Singh Kohli remained taksali akali till a few days ago and joins AAP after akali dal overlooked his claim for ticket. AAP fielded him from the royal city. Kohli is going to give a tough fight as he depending upon AAP’s wave and his local contacts.
Shiromani akali dal candidate Harpal Juneja is also going to give a fight to Capt Amarinder Singh as he has already campaigned the city, two to three times.
Vishnu Sharma was the first mayor of Patiala Municipal Corporation from 2002-2207, when Capt Amarinder Singh was the chief minister of Punjab. He left congress and joins shiromani akali dal, after his differences cropped up with Capt Amarinder Singh and his wife Preneet kaur. Sukhbir Singh Badal appointed him improvement trust Patiala chairman. Few days ago Punjab Pradesh congress committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu re-inducted him into Congress and assured him a party ticket.
Earlier senior congress leader Lal singh and Brahm Mohindra names were also floated for Patiala urban ticket. The party has already given ticket to their sons- Rajinder Singh from Samana and Mohit Mohindra from Patiala Rural.
Lal Singh name was dropped, despite ample pressure from him as the party may want to avoid controversy over one family –one ticket agenda, as his son has already given ticket. Moreover he belongs to Kamboj community and the party has already given three tickets to Kamboj community- Rajinder Singh from Samana, Hardial singh Kamboj from Rajpura and Madan Lal jalapur from Ghanour in Patiala district. By giving another ticket to Kamboj’s other communities may have raise their objections and party seems to avoid any other controversy at this stage.
Has congress surrendered before Capt Amarinder in Patiala? Patiala seat turns from hot to interesting On the other hand senior leader Brahm Mohindra lost the opportunity to contest from Patiala urban as the district congress committee had already passed a resolution against Brahm Mohindra. DCC president Narinderpal Verma had openly revolted against Brahm Mohindra and declared that if party gave ticket to Brahm Mohindra, the local cadre will oppose his candidature.
Open revolt against Brahm Mohindra candidature in his home town by district congress
January 30,2022
