A few Congress workers from Patiala had registered their opposition against Member of Parliament Preneet Kaur before AICC observer Jagannath Shetty, when he had recently held a meeting with various party groups in the constituency. Sources said the dissidents said their MP did not steer them during the recent civic and panchayat polls in the state, where the Congress suffered a drubbing. Sources, however, said Shetty was also given a resolution passed by the District Congress Committee for giving the ticket to Preneet. Congress leaders said this was done primarily by some close associates of Preneet, which did not have the assent of various senior leaders and MLAs. Shetty faced some tough moments in the interiors of Patiala, where some MLAs opposed to Preneet's candidature. However, Shetty refused to comment on the controversy. "I am yet to submit the report to the AICC, so I cannot share its contents," he said. Sources said Shetty also met many sitting and former MLAs, who opposed Preneet. He also had a dinner at the residence of Samana MLA Brahm Mohindra, who does not share a good rapport with former CM Capt Amarinder Singh or his wife. Sources said those against MP's candidature were of the view that "she has represented the area for 10 years now and the baton should now be handed over to a young candidate". Some even supported the candidature of her son Raninder Singh. Youth Cong pollsCHANDIGARH: Buoyed by the response to its membership drive, the Punjab Youth Congress, which registered over three lakh members in September, says this would help the party in the ensuing LS elections. The drive will now lead to the election of office-bearers of the state Youth Congress at block and district levels. Punjab Youth Congress president Vijay Inder Singla said the record number of registrations in just one month was a good indicator. He said the three-day visit of Rahul Gandhi to Punjab has charged up the youths.
