Congress leaders hold bike rallies in a show of strength in Mansa

The ticket aspirants within Congress party in Mansa, who have geared up on social work to impress the high command, have resorted to holding bike rallies for show of strength. In the last four days, two candidates have taken out bike rallies and both are trying to out-do each other.

Newly elected secretary of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Gurpreet Singh Vicky, took out a bike rally to create awareness about the rampant drug abuse in the state, on Thursday. The rally was attended by national secretary of youth Congress Rajendra Moond. Vicky who has been the only Congress leader raising his voice against the ruling government, has not been able to mend his relations with the local Congress leaders Gurpreet Kaur Gagowal (Congress candidate in 2012 elections), ex-MLA Sher Singh Gagowal and others.

“Even if I send an invitation to the other leaders, they will not join my rally or the subsequent programmes,” said Vicky. Earlier this week, Vicky had also taken out a procession against the killings of soldiers in Uri Sector in Jammu and Kashmir; and burnt the Pakistani flag in Mansa. To counter Vicky’s rally, another contender and a runner-up candidate in 2012 assembly elections, Gurpreet Kaur Gagowal, took out a bike rally in Mansa on Monday.

When asked as what was the focus of her bike rally, Gurpreet said that it was held to publicise the leadership of PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh.

Denying that Vicky has no official recognition within the party, Gurpreet said Vicky is a sell-out candidate who has often compromised his position.

Bikram Inder Singh Chahal and Mangat Rai Bansal, have confined their movement to holding meetings with the people.

“We are holding free camps for eye-test, coaching classes and other services. We believe in serving them rather than taking them for a ride,” said Bikram’s father Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, a close-aide of Captain Amarinder Singh. Mangat Rai Bansal, who has been bargaining ticket for his wife, has been holding meetings with people in the rural areas for the past one week