The Congress party, it seems, is relying upon its trusted soldiers in Punjab to fortify its “bastion” in the poll bound neighbouring hill State of Himachal Pradesh.
Buoyed by Sunil Jakhar’s victory in Gurdaspur parliamentary bypoll ahead of the elections in Himachal Pradesh coupled with party’s victory in Punjab Assembly polls earlier this year, the Congress has placed its bet on no less than 11 top leaders from Punjab for ensuring retention of Government in the hill State.
Right from Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, State unit president Sunil Jakhar, Cabinet Ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manpreet Singh Badal and Charanjit Singh Channi, to young and energetic leader like Raja Amarinder Singh Warring and Jaiveer Shergill, the party has deployed its lieutenants to work wonder in Himachal’s November 9 polls.
All set to lost in the oblivion after its resounding defeat in 2014 lok Sabha polls followed by many state polls, the Congress party’s resurrection began with state assembly polls win in Punjab in march this year. Capt Amarinder steered the party to historic victory with two-third majority after a decade.
Capt Amarinder, whose grandson is married to Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s daughter, was one of the few prominent leaders to brave the Modi wave in 2014 polls. At the time, he moved out of his bastion, Patiala, and defeated BJP stalwart Arun Jaitely in his first ever electoral test from Amritsar.
To cash in on his charisma, Congress has deputed Capt Amarinder in Himachal who will be addressing significant number of rallies.
The state Congress president Sunil Jakhar has already started campaigning from Monday. He canvassed for Congress’ candidate from Mandi Asha Kumari, who is also Punjab party affairs secretary in-charge.
Apart from Capt Amarinder and Jakhar, the cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu is also part of the 40-member star campaigner list. Sidhu, a former BJP MP who shifted his loyalties towards the Congress ahead 2017 assembly polls, will be major attraction considering his mass appeal and known face.
Former SAD leader and Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and state Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will also campaign for the party ahead of Himachal polls.
Former Union Minister Ambika Soni, who has recently stepped down as the party affairs in-charge in Himachal, has also been included in the list considering that she know about the state specific issues, besides a recognised name in the State.
With her, another former union minister Manish Tewari and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa will also canvass for the party in Himachal.
Adding youth star power to its campaign, the party has deputed All India Youth Congress president and Punjab MlA Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, along with MlA Vijay Inder Singla and national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill for electioneering.