Punjab polls: Congress’ entire list of 117 candidates likely on December 8

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The screening committee would hold another round of meeting to finalise names of the remaining candidates. This second list would get CEC stamp at its second meeting scheduled for December 8, said a source, adding that if all goes well, the complete list of 117 candidates would be out that day only.

The list of 60 cleared by the screening committee includes Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh and nine others, who were line applicants from their respective constituencies. They include former and sitting CLP leaders Sunil Kumar Jakhar (Abohar) and Charanjit Singh Channi (Chamkaur Sahib), Rana Gurmit Sodhi from Guru Harsahai, Rana Gurjit Singh from Kapurthala, Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa from Qadian, Aruna Chaudhary from Dina Nagar, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa from Fatehgarh Churian, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria from Raja Sansi. The committee, it is learnt, has reached a consensus that former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal should contest from Lehra only. She wanted to change her seat.

The screening committee is yet to clear the name of Manpreet Singh Badal, former finance minister and estranged nephew of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He has not applied for the ticket from anywhere.

Also, the committee is yet to clear the name of turncoat and former jails minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, whose induction had sparked off a controversy after the Enforcement Directorate questioned him in the Jagdish Bhola drug racket case. Former Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa has been running a sort of campaign against him.

A number of MLAs has been cleared in the list of 60. Those who may be dropped spent the day in Delhi lobbying to brighten up their chances.