Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi, August 30
With the notification of Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection due any time now, the Punjab Congress has begun internal discussions on probable candidates with acceptability and winnability emerging as principal factors.
The Tribune has learnt that PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar took the first meeting of party lawmakers from Gurdaspur to assess their mind on the matter.
In the meeting which took place late last evening in Chandigarh, majority MLAs are learnt to have proposed the names of former Union Minister Preneet Kaur and Jakhar.
Jakhar had previously been offered the seat by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh who will have a major say in deciding the nominee.
The MLAs are learnt to have backed these names, especially Preneet Kaur’s, on grounds of her acceptability and winnability and the fact that she can pull votes of all castes and communities being a senior and seasoned leader. So far as Jakhar goes, it’s unclear if he wants to contest, though Amarinder Singh is keen that he should consider the offer.
It is also not clear if Preneet Kaur, having previously represented Patiala LS segment, would want to shift to Gurdaspur for one-and-a-half years until next General Elections in 2019.
Another important factor the Congress will have to contend with is its former state chief Partap Singh Bajwa, ex-MP from the segment, whose wife Charanjit Kaur Bajwa has also thrown her hat in the ring.
A former MLA from Qadian, Charanjit Bajwa withdrew from the 2017 state elections in favour of her brother-in-law Fateh Jung Bajwa who retained Qadian.
