CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress has not learnt lessons from the past. Plagued by the differences over the appointment of party leaders for various duties in the upcoming Patiala and Talwandi Saboo by-elections, the state unit is a divided house. Its leaders are walking into different directions when they should be united in campaign. The polls will be held on August 21.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will not campaign for party candidate Harminder Singh Jassi in Talwadi Saboo. Instead, he will campaign for his wife Preneet Kaur who is contesting from the Patiala (Urban) seat. Punjab Congress President Partap Bajwa is returning the favour. He is not likely to campaign for Preneet Kaur in Patiala. He is busy campaigning for Jassi.
Amarinder Singh said, “I will concentrate on Patiala and will camp in the constituency after the conclusion of the Monsoon session on August 8. It is the duty of state party president Partap Singh Bajwa to campaign for the party candidate in Talwandi Sabo.” Bajwa tried to play down the differences. He said, “It’s an internal administrative matter of the party.”
According to sources, Bajwa was not present at a lunch hosted by Preeneet Kaur and Capt Amarinder Singh at the New Moti Bagh Palace. The lunch was attended by 35 party MLAs and leaders.