Capt: Shahkot will give us two-thirds majority

Shahkot (Jalandhar), May 11

Appealing to the voters ahead of May 28 bypoll to vote for Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday said this would help the party win the 78th Assembly seat and thus get the two-thirds majority.
Addressing a rally in favour of Laddi, who filed his nomination papers after the event, the CM said: “The seat is very important for the Congress. It will give us more strength and help us make legislative changes. It will also strengthen us in Parliament.”
He said: “I know him (Laddi) for long. His uncle Darbara Singh was the Speaker of Vidhan Sabha. He has a very clean heart.”
Taking on Opposition parties, Capt said: “Does Sukhbir think he is Election Commissioner, reading out rules in his daily statements? Do they even have the state’s development their agenda?”
Laddi lashed out at his critics and thanked Capt Amarinder for reposing faith in him despite odds.
Local leaders stay away

Dissidence within the Congress over Laddi’s nomination was visible at the rally. All prominent leaders from the constituency — former Home Minister Brij Bhupinder Singh Lally, PPCC spokesperson Navjot Dahiya, general secretary Rajanbir Singh, District Congress Committee (Rural) president Capt Harminder Singh and district farmer cell incharge Puran Singh Thind — who had earlier demanded Laddi’s replacement, chose to stay away. The only minister from Doaba, Sunder Sham Arora, and Jalandhar North MLA Bawa Henry, too, could not be spotted.
Namesakes of both Cong, SAD nominees in fray
Jalandhar: On the last day of nominations, nine more candidates filed their papers, taking the total to 19. This includes covering candidates too. District Election Officer Varinder Kumar Sharma said Malkit Singh, Balwant Singh, Naib Singh, Kashmir Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Paramjot and Hardev Singh (all Independents) along with Hardev Singh Laddi and his wife Manjinder Kaur from the Congress filed their nominations. Namesakes of both Congress and SAD candidates have filed papers as Independents.