 "Congress on a strong footing in Punjab: Analysts")
With Congress fielding its heavy weights in the Lok Sabha electoral field in Punjab, it would not be a cake walk for the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) -Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance in the state. Also, the Congress pact with Manpreet Badal's(estranged nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal) People's Party of Punjab(PPP) will play a significant role in the coming elections, say analysts.
While the ruling alliance fighting elections on developmental issues and strongly deny anti-incumbency factor, the opposition alleged there is an undercurrent against the present regime because of anti-people policies of the state government.
According to politicians, fielding of heavyweights clearly show the Congress is very serious about elections. The Congress has fielded former chief minister and sitting Patiala MLA Captain Amarinder Singh against the SAD-BJP combine candidate Arun Jaitley in Amritsar. The state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa is contesting from the adjoining constituency of Gurdaspur against Bollywood star Vinod Khanna. Bajwa defeated Khanna in 2009.
According to politicians, the move to field top guns shows how the Congress wants to convey the Opposition that its popularity is not finished in the state. In the previous elections in 2009, the Congress had bagged eight of 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.
In another strategic move, the party has tied up with Chief Minister's estranged nephew Manpreet Badal and fielded him against Chief Minister's daughter-in-law, Harsimrat Badal in Bathinda. Manprret will be Congress-PPP combine's candidate.
According to Punjab Congress chief, Partap Singh Bajwa, in the 2012 elections, the Congress bagged 40.11 per cent votes, while the ruling SAD-BJP alliance got 41.88 per cent. The PPP and its alliance got 6.15 per cent. Had the party tied up with PPP, their share would have gone up and form the government.
Analysts said in many constituencies, the ruling alliance was sure of victory but by fielding heavyweights, the Congress would act as stumbling block. It is learnt that the ruling alliance has sent a message to the entire party cadre to begin aggressive campaigning right from the district-level and down to the booth-level.
Meanwhile, the ruling SAD on Thursday received a shot in the arm in Fatehgarh Sahib constituency with Congress sitting MP Sukhdev Singh Libra joining the party. Libra was denied ticket from the Congress.
While the ruling alliance fighting elections on developmental issues and strongly deny anti-incumbency factor, the opposition alleged there is an undercurrent against the present regime because of anti-people policies of the state government.
According to politicians, fielding of heavyweights clearly show the Congress is very serious about elections. The Congress has fielded former chief minister and sitting Patiala MLA Captain Amarinder Singh against the SAD-BJP combine candidate Arun Jaitley in Amritsar. The state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa is contesting from the adjoining constituency of Gurdaspur against Bollywood star Vinod Khanna. Bajwa defeated Khanna in 2009.
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Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ambika Soni is contesting from Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency. It has also fielded sitting Congress legislature party chief and sitting MLA from Abohar Sunil Jakhar from Ferozepur. Also, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Nabha MLA, is the Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib and Joginder Singh Panjgrain, the Jaito MLA, is contesting from Faridkot. Overall, the Congress has fielded four sitting MLAs to contest the polls.
According to politicians, the move to field top guns shows how the Congress wants to convey the Opposition that its popularity is not finished in the state. In the previous elections in 2009, the Congress had bagged eight of 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.
In another strategic move, the party has tied up with Chief Minister's estranged nephew Manpreet Badal and fielded him against Chief Minister's daughter-in-law, Harsimrat Badal in Bathinda. Manprret will be Congress-PPP combine's candidate.
According to Punjab Congress chief, Partap Singh Bajwa, in the 2012 elections, the Congress bagged 40.11 per cent votes, while the ruling SAD-BJP alliance got 41.88 per cent. The PPP and its alliance got 6.15 per cent. Had the party tied up with PPP, their share would have gone up and form the government.
Analysts said in many constituencies, the ruling alliance was sure of victory but by fielding heavyweights, the Congress would act as stumbling block. It is learnt that the ruling alliance has sent a message to the entire party cadre to begin aggressive campaigning right from the district-level and down to the booth-level.
Meanwhile, the ruling SAD on Thursday received a shot in the arm in Fatehgarh Sahib constituency with Congress sitting MP Sukhdev Singh Libra joining the party. Libra was denied ticket from the Congress.