Putting to rest speculations of not fighting the Khadoor Sahib bypoll, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday made it
clear that party will contest the polls. AICC general secretary In-charge of Punjab affairs, Shakeel Ahmad said that the party is all set to fight the by-poll.
Ahmad was talking to media after attending a party meet in Chandigarh. The meeting was called to chart out plan for celebrating 125th birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. He said that State party president Capt. Amarinder Singh has to decide on the final candidate. He said Ramanjeet Sikki, who resigned from the seat in the wake of a series of desecration incidents of holy scriptures in Punjab, is one of the names under consideration, but his wish is yet to be ascertained.
It is learnt that some leaders have proposed to offer Congress ticket from the Khadoor Sahib seat to Beant Singh who got injured in police action in Behbal Kalan after the incidents of desecration. Rahul Gandhi had met Beant Singh during his visit to Punjab two months back.
Party had brought Beant Singh on stage in Badlav Rally at Bathinda recently. A senior leader of Congress has proposed Beant Singh’s name to Capt Amarinder Singh, though a decision is yet to be taken.
Ahmad said Congress will celebrate 125th anniversary of Dr Ambedkar in a big way. It has decided to organise a 2-day conclave on dalit issues in ludhiana on February 15-16. Thereafter, the party will conduct marches in honour of the maker of the Constitution from all the districts and the marches would culminate at a place in Doaba region.
A big rally would be organised on the culmination of the marches, which is likely to be attended by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
The meeting to plan the celebrations of Dr Ambedkar’s anniversary was attended by Manpreet Singh Badal who had joined Congress last week.