Express News Service
CHANDIGARH: Congress is finding it difficult to choose a candidate for the Patiala (Urban) Assembly seat. Reason? Former CM Amarinder Singh has been the MLA from this seat for 20 years. The heavyweight could be a major thorn in the flesh for the state’s ruling party in the polls.
The Congress screening committee has sent a list of the remaining 31 candidates president Sonia Gandhi for her final nod. Sources said that due to the differences between Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress president Navjot Si ngh Sidhu on certain names, the list could not be finalised at the screening committee’s meeting held on Saturday. A subcommittee was formed to decide on the names and reach a decision.
The Patiala (Urban) seat has been represented by Amarinder since 2002. Four months ago, he left Congress and formed his own party Punjab Lok Congress. It has tied up with BJP and will contest in 37 seats in the election on February 20.
Amarinder has been saying that he will content from ‘his’ seat, and win hands down as people of the royal city is with him due to his royal roots. Sources said the name of Vishnu Sharma, who was re-inducted in Congress last week by Sidhu, is doing the rounds as a probable candidate.
Also, there is demand from a section of local Congress leaders that Sidhu or his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu should fight from this seat. The Congress is likely to announce its candidate for this seat in the next list, which is expected any day now. Aam Aadmi Party has fielded turncoat Ajitpal Singh Kohli from this seat. He was earlier with Akali Dal.
