Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday described as “false” reports of BJP considering his name for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. Bajwa categorically stated that he never applied for the ticket from the Congress party. As such the question of seeking ticket from another party did not arise.
“I did not even apply for a ticket from my own party for the upcoming Parliamentary elections, why would I choose to apply or seek a ticket from a rival party?” said Bajwa.
Maintaining that his legacy was linked to the Indian National Congress, Bajwa said: “BJP is a party with which I have been at loggerheads with at an ideological level. I have neither ever joined BJP nor even thought so.”
At the same time, Bajwa made it clear, “My leader is Rahul Gandhi and I shall always follow and implement his decisions. Hence, any resentment with him is impossible. I always say it with pride that I was born a Congressman and would remain so till my last breath. Like the true ideology of Congress, I am also a firm believer of sacrificing everything for the country.”
Visibly peeved over the reports that the saffron party discussed Bajwa’s name as its candidate from Gurdaspur parliamentary seat during its meeting early this week, he said: “It has been falsely highlighted that I have sought a ticket from Gurdaspur from BJP for the coming Parliamentary elections. I am not at all aggrieved by the decisions of my own party. These reports are absolutely shocking and nothing could be further from the truth.
“These are false reports to tarnish my image before the public by trying to show that I was one of the politicians who preferred changing parties to suit their political objectives...Everybody knows that I am a person who would never change my party for any reason or benefit like many others have done,” said Bajwa.
Pointing that he was a second-generation Congress leader, Bajwa said that his father late Satnam Singh Bajwa was five-time MLA and also remained a Cabinet Minister in Punjab Government.
“I had started my career in politics as a student leader in 1976 from DAV College Chandigarh, became Gurdaspur District Youth Congress president, then Youth Congress vice president in 1980, Youth Congress president in 1982, and then rose to be the president of State Congress,” said Bajwa.
He added, “I was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1992, 2002 and 2007. I have worked in various different Departments under Punjab Government.
I have worked as a Cabinet Minister with four different Chief Ministers of Punjab. I have even been Lok Sabha MP in 2009 from Gurdaspur constituency and am also currently, Rajya Sabha MP. My wife was the MLA from Qadian constituency. Therefore, my legacy is linked with the Indian National Congress.”
Notably, Bajwa’s younger brother, Fatehjung Singh Bajwa is also the Congress legislator from Qadian assembly segment.
“I not only started my career with the Congress but throughout my life has never left or changed my party. My party loyalty is undisputed. There have been many leaders who have changed parties for vested or political interests. Unlike these
opportunists, I have maintained my undoubted and impeccable loyalty towards the Congress,” he said adding that I am born a Congressman and would remain so till my last breath.