Minister of state for foreign affairs Preneet Kaur on Sunday met some of the miffed Congressmen in the city here. The meeting came after several local Congress leaders threatened to contest against the official party candidates in the forthcoming municipal body elections.
Headed by the former mayor Vishnu Sharma, the dissidents had come out in the open alleging bias in the distribution of tickets. They had blamed Preneet, who played a key role in the allotment of tickets, for a partial attitude.
It is reported that the Sunday's visit was an attempt by the minister to curb dissidence and to buy peace with the agitating leaders. Apart from personally meeting a few Congressmen at the Moti Bagh Palace here, Preneet also held telephonic conversations with some rebel leaders.
Sources said that Preneet might have bought peace with some of the rebel leaders, but the former mayor Vishnu is still not relenting. Despite a stern warning by the state Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh, Vishnu continues to be on the warpath.
"They have deliberately chosen weak candidates to give the SAD-BJP a clear edge in the polls. We will wait till Monday for the next move. If the party fails to revise the list, we will go ahead with our decision of fielding independent candidates," said Vishnu. He claimed that he was fighting for the sake of the party. "It's my right to raise the matter because I can't see the Congress being destroyed in this manner," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"They have deliberately chosen weak candidates to give the SAD-BJP a clear edge in the polls. We will wait till Monday for the next move. If the party fails to revise the list, we will go ahead with our decision of fielding independent candidates," said Vishnu. He claimed that he was fighting for the sake of the party. "It's my right to raise the matter because I can't see the Congress being destroyed in this manner," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Amarinder on Thursday had ruled out any changes in the list of candidates.
Sources said that Preneet, who enjoys good relations with the lower-rung leadership, has managed to placate most of the rebels. She exhorted the Congressmen to put up a united show in the larger interests of the party.
Meanwhile, the former MC and block president Madan Lal Bhambri has resigned from the party over denial of ticket. Bhambri, who was seeking ticket from ward number 40, has announced to contest as an independent candidate.