Amid stiff revolt over his candidature by senior leaders of his party, Congress nominee from Nawanshahr (SBS Nagar) constituency Angad Saini, 26, on Monday met them for damage control and tried to get their support for campaigning, but his attempts seem to be failing to yield any convincing outcome.
Angad, who is son of present MLA Guriqbal Kaur Babli, accompanied by a few supporters, even went to meet his arch rival Satvir Singh Palli Jhikki at his house, but he was not available due to which they had to come back empty-handed. Satvir has been present district Congress committee president in SBS Nagar for the past few years. Satvir was one of the strong contenders for the ticket from this constituency and after Saini got the ticket, the district Congress president held a meeting with his supporters in which they all refused to go with Saini in this assembly election.
Last Saturday, when Angad arrived in the city from New Delhi and his supporters organised a roadshow, the Satvir group was absent from the scene, which has apparently increased worries of Saini. On Sunday, MLA Babli, Angad and others held discussions with their supporters and decided to approach the rebels.
On Monday, Saini along with municipal councillors (MC) Kamaljeet Lal, Vinod Pinka, municipal council president Lalit Mohan Pathak ‘Ballu’ met Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Vipan Taneja, MC Mohinder Singh ‘DSP’ and requested them for their support. When they went to meet Satvir at his Palli Jhikki village, they knocked at his house’s door many times, but no one responded. Then, they came back after someone informed that Satvir and all family members had gone to New Delhi.
{{/usCountry}}On Monday, Saini along with municipal councillors (MC) Kamaljeet Lal, Vinod Pinka, municipal council president Lalit Mohan Pathak ‘Ballu’ met Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Vipan Taneja, MC Mohinder Singh ‘DSP’ and requested them for their support. When they went to meet Satvir at his Palli Jhikki village, they knocked at his house’s door many times, but no one responded. Then, they came back after someone informed that Satvir and all family members had gone to New Delhi.
{{/usCountry}}Speaking to HT, Taneja said everybody was welcome to meet and till his leader Satvir did not take any decision, he would not go with Angad. MC Mohinder Singh ‘DSP’ also said the same and asked the visiting leaders to meet Satvir.
Meanwhile, Satvir continues to stick to his stand and claimed that it is a completely wrong decision of the party to give ticket to Angad and he would not work with him at any cost.
When contacted, Angad said Satvir was like his elder brother and a senior leader of the party.
He claimed he would be the first person to meet him whenever he landed in the city from New Delhi. He also said that other leaders have given positive response and hoped they would abide by the party’s decision.