Amidst reports of “undue” delay in declaration of Congress candidates for 2017 Punjab polls, the State party chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday denied the same saying that the party needs to go through the systems and processes.
In the same breath, he maintained that the list will be out next week, while refuting reports of any differences with the party high command over selection of candidates.
“There are no differences with the high command on tickets. These are false reports. list of candidates will be announced next week,” he said while talking to the mediapersons.
“There is no undue delay in declaration of party candidates…Congress is a large party that needed to go through systems and processes to ensure proper ticket allocation,” he added.
Capt Amarinder had initially stated that the first list of candidates will be out on December 4 and the second by December 8. last week, he said that the list will be finalised by December 8 and announced on December 9 or 10.
In contrast, the ruling SAD has already announced 89 candidates by releasing its first list in November. AAP too has released the names of 102 candidates in separate seven lists.
“The Badals have a family and they decide it within the family. We go to the State first and then to the scrutiny committee. Two meetings of the scrutiny committee have already been held. Thereafter, we go to the CEC (Central Election Committee of the party). We have already had two meetings of the CEC. We have already cleared a number of candidates,” he said.
Once the scrutiny committee sends the final names, it will be decided. We still have enough time. Our candidates will have at least 45 days to campaign,” said the Congress leader.
Talking about opposition within the party over candidates, Capt Amarinder said: “We'll not sideline senior Congress leaders. Only in places where there is no Congress candidate, we will look for strong candidates who have come from other parties. There are a few gaps as some leaders have left us.”
HOPE SIDHU JOINS US
On cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu joining the Congress, Capt Amarinder said: “I hope so. I have full confidence. I had a good meeting with him. It was very positive. let him come from Mumbai. let us wait for him to take the decision.”
Party sources said that Sidhu will be joining soon, and his late induction was a strategic decision.
AAP ONlY COMPETITOR, SAD-BJP DON’T EVEN EXIST
Capt Amarinder said that AAP is the only competitor to Congress in 2017 elections, adding that the BJP and SAD do not even exist.
“Our fight will remain with AAP, but it is losing grounds day-by-day in Punjab. Our surveys in the state indicate that the Akali Dal is nowhere in the contest to make a Government in Punjab again. AAP is on number two and Congress is on top,” he said.
Commenting on BJP’s presence in Punjab, he said that the Congress does not have competition with the BJP and it would be a big deal if the saffron party manages to secure even one seat.
WIll REQUEST PRIYANKA TO CAMPAIGN IN PUNJAB: AMARINDER
Capt Amarinder said that he will request Priyanka Gandhi to campaign for the party along with her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi in the upcoming state Assembly elections.
“Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would be campaigning for Congress in Punjab and I would also request Priyanka Gandhi to help with the electioneering in the state,” he told the reporters.
WIll MOVE COURT OVER DEMONETISATION-RElATED DEATHS
Taking on Narendra Modi government, Capt Amarinder said that the party's state unit will move the court over demonetisation-related deaths across the country.
“Around 100 people have died while standing in bank and ATM queues while thousands are suffering due to cash crunch. Punjab Congress will go to the court over the issue,” he said.
“The impact of demonetisation on the state's industries, already in the doldrums because of the Badal Government's policies, has been devastating,” he said.
He added that the Modi government’s “ill-planned” demonetisation move is virtually a “criminal act”, which has not only brought many lives to a tragic end but also rendered jobless thousands of contractual employees and labourers in industries.