Capt loyalist issues ultimatum to party

Sidhu blames Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari for his woes. “Every one in the city was sure that I will get the ticket. Now,I have been told that Manish Tewari did not want this seat be given to me.” Asked why he waited for almost a day to react,Sidhu said: “I had hoped that the party will reconsider its decision,but I have been told by none other but Captain Amarinder Singh and other senior leaders that Tewari,who had been supporting me all this time,opposed me at the last hour. Our MP has messed up not only Ludhiana South but in Ludhiana Central East and Atam Nagar as well.” He added: “If the party does not review the decision,I will fight as an Independent. But I have nothing against the party. If I win the seat,I will give it as a gift to the Congress.”

Interestingly,Tewari could not manage a seat for his loyalist Pawan Dewan,who was an aspirant from Ludhiana West. The ticket has gone to councillor Bharat Bhushan Ashu. “Ashu rebelled before the seats were allocated. He approached the scrutiny committee and made it clear that in case he was not given the ticket,he will contest as an Independent. The party had reports that Dewan stood no chances against Ashu. Had we known that this strategy could work,even I would have done the same,” said Sidhu. Despite repeated attempts,Tewari could not be contacted.

13 councillors resign from Congress

Jalandhar/Phagwara/Amritsar: Trouble is brewing for the Congress over allocation of tickets. While 13 councillors — both current and former — of Jalandhar have resigned and participated in a dharna over the issue,thousands of Congress workers held meetings in Phagwara and Majitha constituencies of Kapurthala and Amritsar districts against the party candidates.

On Sunday,13 current and former councillors of Jalandhar Municipal Corporation went to submit their resignations at the Congress Bhavan. District Congress president Arun Walia,however,did not turn up even after allotting time to them. They will now send their resignations to the Congress high command,said four-time councillor Rajinder Beri. In Phagwara,thousands of supporters rallied behind three-time MLA Joginder Singh Mann by constituting a 11-member committee to chalk out their future strategy. In Amritsar district as well,two meetings were organised — one by S R S Lalli Majithia and the other by former MLA Professor Darbari Lal. Both wanted the party to reconsider the candidates from the area.

Party may re-consider candidates on 14 seats

Jalandhar: The party high command has reportedly decided to reconsider candidates for 14 Assembly seats,including four from the Doaba region — Jalandhar (Central),Shahkot,Jalandhar Cantt and Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. In Majha region as well,Majitha and Pathankot constituencies can be re-considered,said sources.