Cong’s ‘missing’ list: Kidnapped candidates,husband
It reads like a crime file with details about kidnappings and threats.
It reads like a crime file with details about kidnappings and threats. But it is what the state Congress calls its list of “missing” candidates — those who will not contest the May 19 block samiti and zila parishad polls in the state.
Compiled by the party,it cites reasons ranging from false rejection of nominations to withdrawal under pressure for seats,which will have no Congress candidate. This is the story of 182 of the total 2,577 block samiti and 29 out of the 331 zila parishad seats.
Some candidates have actually gone “missing”. For the Pathankot Assembly seat,the list says nominations of two block samiti and one zila parishad candidate have been rejected. The remarks column in the list states — “husband of zila parishad candidate kidnapped by BJP”.
For Bhadaur seat represented by MLA Mohammad Sadique,one block samiti candidate’s nomination stands withdrawn. Reason: “Under threat of SAD,candidate kidnapped,phone switched off”.
In the reserved segment of Baba Bakala,one block samiti nomination stands withdrawn as the “candidate has been kidnapped by SAD”. In Dera Baba Nanak — seat represented by firebrand Congress MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa — “four block samiti candidates ran away under threat of SAD”.
In Lambi constituency of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,one zila parishad and two block samiti nominations were “withdrawn under pressure”,the report adds. Interestingly,one block samiti candidate’s nomination in Lambi was rejected as he later gave an affidavit that he did not sign on his nomination.
In several other assembly segments,reasons cited for rejections and withdrawals is “under pressure of SAD/BJP”. In Majitha,represented by Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia,one zila parishad and four block samiti candidates have withdrawn “under pressure”.
In the reserved constituency of Jandiala,two zila parishad nominations have been withdrawn and 12 rejected — all “under pressure from MLA”. In neighbouring Attari,one zila parishad and two block samiti nominations have been “falsely rejected under pressure from SAD MLA”.
In Samana,the seat contested by former Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh’s son Raninder,two block samiti nominations were “withdrawn under pressure from police and ruling party.”
Contrary to state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa’s assertion that the party will fight the polls to the finish despite “false rejections and forced withdrawals”,SAD has been given a walkover in Raja Sansi where Congress has boycotted all four zila parishad and 20 block samiti seats. In Fatehgarh Churian too,the party has announced a boycott of all 30 block samiti seats and three zila parisahd seats after 14 block samiti nominations were rejected.
Interestingly,most rejections and withdrawals are in a few assembly segments. In the list with no such cases are those represented by both Congress and SAD leaders. Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar’s Abohar,Bajwa’s MLA wife Charanjit Bajwa’s Qadian,Lehra seat of former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and seats represented by Congress vice-presidents have no “false withdrawal or rejection”. So does Jalalabad of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and most seats falling in Bathinda Lok Sabha seat of his MP wife,Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
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