Punjab polls: Senior Cong leaders ask ‘Will we be able to save our seats?’

There is a sense of uncertainty among the 42 sitting MLAs, who fear whether they will be the party’s choice for the next election. (Source: PTI)

Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s decision to name 40 per cent youth as party candidates and state party president Captain Amarinder Singh’s stance against dynasty has left senior Congress leaders jittery.

There is a sense of uncertainty among the 42 sitting MLAs, who fear whether they will be the party’s choice for the next election.

“Ever since Rahul has made the announcement, we are disillusioned and are wondering if we will be able to save our respective seats. If he has said that 40 per cent tickets will be given to youths, this means that almost 20 MLAs out of 42 would be shown the door. This is not the way to treat the experienced ones,” said a party MLA on the condition of anonymity.

Many are also unhappy with Amarinder opposing dynasty politics as quite a few have been pushing for their children’s career in politics. Captain had recently announced that only one person from a particular family would be given a ticket to contest elections.

Several senior leaders including former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, senior vice-president Lal Singh, former Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, member of Parliament Santokh Singh Chaudhary, former PCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo have atleast a member in their family each vying for a party ticket.

It is to be recalled that Bhattal’s son-in-law Vikram Bajwa had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 Assembly election from Ludhiana’s Sahnewal and is a likely contender this time again. Daughter Simran Bajwa too has taken upon herself to handle media for her mother.

Similarly, Bajwa’s wife, Charanjit Kaur Bajwa is a sitting MLA from Qadian. Interestingly, his brother Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa, who is a strong contender for a party ticket from Qadian, has already started nurturing the constituency.

That’s not all, Sanaur MLA Lal Singh’s son Rajinder Singh who has been working in Samana constituency, too can stake his claim on the ticket. Dullo’s wife who contested in last assembly election in all likelihood could seek a ticket either for herself or for son. So will be in case of Chaudhary Santokh, whose son Vikram Chaudhary is a youth Congress leader. Questioning Amarinder’s stance against dynasty, certain senior leaders, in private, feel that despite this Captain’s wife Preneet Kaur would certainly contest in the next Lok Sabha elections. She has been a union minister and she is yet to retire, “If she is contesting in a different election, how is it not an example of dynasty?” asked a leader. The leader further claimed that Amarinder will also introduce his grandson Nirvan Singh into to politics who is being seen as his heir apparent.