Punjab Congress party wants their trusted soldiers and not warriors from outside to win for them the electoral battle of 2019.
As the Congress state leadership started the process of selecting the candidates holding meeting and discussions, the leaders and workers have sent across a loud and clear message that they are in favour of giving a chance to “local” faces rather than fielding “parachute candidates”.
They argued that parachute candidates, mostly unaware of the real issues, have remained unsuccessful. Besides, such candidates would upset the local cadre and result in rebellion within, they added.
The issue was come up for discussion during the party’s meeting on Saturday between the state unit president Sunil Jakhar, party affairs’ in-charge Asha Kumari among some cabinet ministers with the leaders from four Lok Sabha constituencies of Bathinda, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Sri Anandpur Sahib.
Congress had lost elections on these seats to SAD-BJP combine. “During 2014 elections, we fielded candidates on many seats who did not belong to the constituency, and the result was same, we faced defeat. We want that the party should take opinion of the local leaders and choose a known face from the constituency, and not bringing someone from outside to contest,” a senior Congress leader told The Pioneer requesting anonymity.
Notably, the Congress had fielded Sunil Jakhar from Ferozepur, Mohinder Singh Kay Pee from Hoshiarpur, Ambika Soni from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Capt Amarinder Singh from Amritsar, and Ravneet Singh Bittu from Ludhiana — all top leaders contesting from a new electoral turf.
During the meeting, there was consensus on the local and youth leaders. “We have communicated to the party high command that we favour local and popular leaders, and most preferably youngsters be also given fair chance,” said another Congress leader, who did not wish to be named.
The leader said that fielding someone from outside result in lots of resentment among the local leaders and their supporters who have been working in the area since long, but the party leadership prefer some other leader from outside over them.
“It has happened in 2012 assembly polls that many such leaders were given party ticket who were not even known to the people, resulting in Congress’ resounding defeat,” added the leader.
However, the Congress central leadership has instructed the state units that the opinion of the grass root level workers and local leaders be considered on priority in deciding the names of the candidates.
The state Congress unit has adopted a secret ballot system to shortlist the candidates. During the meeting, it has asked all the leaders present from their respective constituency to write a name of their choice of candidate on a paper and put it in a box which would be opened later on and the list would be prepared.