Following the announcement of six candidates for June 1 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party has swiftly transitioned into damage control mode, particularly in constituencies where opposition to the party candidates has surfaced. Amidst growing discontent within the party ranks, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has embarked on a proactive approach, engaging with key stakeholders to address simmering tensions and foster unity ahead of the upcoming elections.
As the Congress leadership navigates the delicate terrain of candidate selection for the remaining seven seats, efforts are underway to address multiple fronts of discontentment within the party. While steps are being taken to assuage the concerns of the family of the late MP Santokh Chaudhary over the allocation of the party ticket to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in Jalandhar, simultaneous endeavors are being made to quell the brewing unrest in Patiala and Sangrur constituencies.
The nomination of Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) former MP and medical practitioner Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Congress’ Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has triggered dissatisfaction in these regions, prompting the party to initiate comprehensive measures to mollify dissenting voices and reinforce party unity ahead of the elections.
The significance of these efforts and interactions with the discontent leaders cannot be understated, given the recent controversies surrounding ticket allocations.
The decision to field Dr Gandhi as its candidate from Patiala had stirred dissatisfaction among local party leaders, especially for ignoring the claims of traditional Congress worker. Raising the banner of revolt are former MLA Hardyal Singh Kamboj, party stalwart and former Minister Lal Singh, former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur.
In Patiala Congress, there is a united front against Dr Gandhi. Several legislators and senior leaders have openly raised a dissenting voice against him. A meeting has been called on April 20 by Rajpura’s former MLA Hardyal Kamboj, hinting at a possible significant decision. In the same way, former Finance Minister and six-time MLA Lal Singh is also upset with the party decision, and will be part of the April 20 meeting.
Notably, since day one, all leaders in Patiala have been demanding a ticket for the traditional Congress worker, who have been clamouring for a change in the ticket allocation. Earlier, this faction had also written to the party high command seeking ticket for a tradition al Congress leader instead of a turncoat or new entrant.
In response to the dissent, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring took a proactive step towards damage control by personally reaching out to the disgruntled leaders. Warring on Wednesday, met Kamboj in an apparent attempt to mend fences, and met the senior party leader at his residence over lunch.
Besides Kamboj, Warring also met former Dhuri MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy, who was vying for the Sangrur ticket, and had openely expressed his discontentment over ticket allocation to Khaira. The meeting came a day after Goldy took to social media to publicly express his frustration following the denial of a ticket for the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency “once again”.
After being denied a ticket, Goldy shared an emotional video on Tuesday, sparking a fresh controversy within the Punjab Congress. He urged the party not to disregard the dedication of honest workers. Alleging harassment by a party leader, Goldy affirmed his loyalty despite his ticket being denied four times, rejecting offers from other parties, and pledged to campaign for Sukhpal Khaira.
Warring’s meeting with Goldy, along with former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and party candidate Khaira in Dhuri, indicated at the Congress leadership’s proactive approach to conflict resolution and a commitment to upholding the party's unity.
Following the meeting, Goldy declared his commitment to fulfill any responsibilities assigned to him by the party with utmost dedication. Also present on the occasion was Goldy's wife, who also pledged that they would ensure the fulfillment of these duties. Additionally, they announced their intention to support Khaira, nominating him as the Member of Parliament from Sangrur constituency.
