19/12/2016
JALANDHAR CANTT: Jalandhar Cantonment assembly constituency is witnessing either rebellion or strong contention in all the three major parties. The seat had come into the spotlight after sitting MLA Pargat Singh, who has since resigned from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and assembly, raised the banner of revolt. Since then, rebellion in Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party has spilled onto the roads, while situation has been further complicated for the Congress with Pargat's entry.
SAD:
At the same time, SAD leaders, who are opposing ticket to Sarabjit Singh Makkar, also chose to stay away from the party's important rally at Moga, which was to be a major show of strength.
SAD (urban) president Gurcharann Singh Channi and SGPC member Paramjit Singh Raipur are leading the pack of local leaders opposing Makkar. The had even skipped the meeting held during deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal's two visits to the constituency to express their opposition to Makkar's candidature.
AAP:
AAP candidate H S Walia, a local financier and car dealer, who is also the party's zonal youth wing in charge, is facing strong opposition from Indian hockey's golden girl Rajbbir Kaur, who captained the country's women hockey team for 12 years and represented the country in four Asian games. Rajbir's allegations of 'use and throw policy', sale of tickets have already embarrassed the party leadership, coming from as they do from a noted sport star.
Other AAP ticket aspirants from the area, including former international hockey player Jagdeep Gill and prominent Punjabi journalist Major Singh, are also on war path.
On Thursday, local AAP leaders once again made it clear that they would continue opposing ticket to H S Walia.
CONGRESS:
After joining the Congress, Pargat had already made it clear that he would contest from Jalandhar cantt seat only and claimed that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had also promised him the ticket from here. However, this has not been enough to stop leaders like former MLA Jagbir Singh Brar from making last ditch efforts to get the ticket.In the last few days, some of Brar's supporters have spoken on his behalf not only demanding ticket for him but also threatening open rebellion. Like Pargat, Brar was also originally elected as SAD MLA but then went out with his cousin Manpreet Singh Badal when latter formed PPP. Just a couple of months before 2012 election, he joined the Congress and got the party ticket.
