Even as the SAD-BJP combine had added “star” power to its election campaign for may 19 elections in Punjab by fielding Bollywood actor Sunny Deol, the Congress has decided to repose its faith in the Gandhis, besides the party’s political stalwarts both from the Centre and the State.
Right from UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress national president Rahul Gandhi, and new entrant in “active politics” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is among those “stars” who will land in Punjab and Chandigarh to give an impetus to the party’s poll campaign.
Other than Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, state party affairs in-charge Asha Kumari, and state unit chief Sunil Jakhar, the Congress’ list of 40 star campaigners, for Punjab and Chandigarh, also include the party’s titans and a crew of party’s former Chief Ministers from other states, besides the state Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, among others.
The party heavyweights, putting their weight behind the Congress candidates, includes senior leader Ahmed Patel, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Union Minister Ambika Soni, party’s national general secretary KC Venugopal, former Union Minister Anand Sharma, and Ranjit Ranjan.
Those former chief ministers, on whom the party is banking on for its poll campaign, includes Harish Rawat (Uttrakhand), Sheila Dixit (Delhi), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh), Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Haryana), and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Punjab).
Besides, former Union Minister and party’s candidate from Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency, Pawan Kumar Bansal, has also been included as star campaigner.
It also includes the name of party’s Rajya Sabha MPs and former party presidents Partap Singh Bajwa, and Shamsher Singh Dullo. A prominent Dalit leader, Dullo has virtually turned rebelled, as his wife and son joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Party candidate from Sri Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari’s name was also included in the list.
Among the cabinet ministers are Brahm Mohindra, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Manpreet Badal, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Vijay Inder Singla, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Charanjit Singh Channi, Aruna Chaudhary, Razia Sultana, and Sunder Sham Arora; leaving Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, OP Soni, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, and Bharat Bhushan Ashu out from the list.
Besides, former state Cabinet Minister Lal Singh, senior leader and MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra, and sitting MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli are also party’s star campaigners, other than party’s national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill.
The name of new entrant in the Congress Udit Raj, a disgruntled BJP MP from Northwest Delhi who has recently joined the Congress, was also included in the list.
“The party has submitted its list of star campaigners with the state election commission for mandatory approval. The list includes 20 names of party’s central leaders and 20 from the state. They will address rallies and public meetings across state, campaigning for the party candidates,” a senior Congress leader told The Pioneer.
To counter the “star” power the SAD-BJP is banking on, Congress has included the name of actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar, who had also worked in Punjabi movies.
“We are also roping in some Bollywood actors to campaign in Punjab,” said the leader.
