Chandigarh: With the race for Punjab Elections 2017 moving into top gear, the Grand old party of the Indian political landscape is left facing its old bug bear of inner party dissidence that had put paid to its chances at the hustings in 2012 polls. The Congress party is attaching great importance to the Punjab elections given that these are being viewed as its opportunity to turn the tide at the national level. But Captain Amarinder in Punjab is finding it tough to deal with the individual ambitions of his party men.
Data gathered by Living India News reveals that the party is facing serious dissidence in at least 30 constituencies out of the 117 seats that it is contesting. The problem is grave in the Doaba region where the rebels are out to make a dent in the party vote base in one-third of the 23 seats. Here is a glimpse of the battle that the party is fighting with its own:
1. Baba Bakala: The official Congress candidate, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, has had to contend with Congress veteran Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwaddi, a three time MLA who had filed his nomination papers as independent candidate after being denied by the party. Bhalaipur has since withdrawn his candidature but the posture remains.
2. Dhuri: The traditional stronghold of Barnala family, whose patriarch Surjit Singh Barnala passed away recently. The family expected a ticket for Harpreet Barnala, wife of Gaganjeet Singh Barnala. But that was not to be. Though Harpreet withdrew her nomination papers as independent candidate, Kewal Dhillon, the official Congress candidate will have to work overtime to ensure that the party vote base is not divided.
3. Ludhiana (East): Punjab Congress General Secretary Gurmail Pehalwan is miffed at being overlooked for party ticket. This could impact the prospects of official party candidate Sanjeev Talwar.
4. Mansa: Gurpreet Kaur Gagowal, a relative of former Congress minister Sher Singh Gagowal had filed her nomination papers as independent candidate. Though she has withdrawn her candidature but the dissent remains.
5. Ludhiana North: A traditional Congress stronghold where party candidate Rakesh Pandey is facing opposition from rebel Congressman Hemraj Aggarwal, who is contesting as an independent.
6. Amritsar South: Manjinder Singh Palasore has rebelled against official candidate Inderbir Singh Bolaria.
7. Amritsar East: Navjot Sidhu will have to use all his charm to get the dissident Mandeep Singh Manna over to his side.
8. Pathankot: Ashok Sharma is heading the dissidents here.
9. Sujanpur: Naresh Puri and Vinay Mahajan are out to queer the pitch for offical candidate from this seat.
10. Bhoa: Congress senior Rumal Chand has turned rebel here.
11. Garhshankar: Party spokesperson Nimisha Mehta has refused to give up her claim. She is fighting as independent against Luv Kumar Goldy.
12. Dasuya: Arun Dogra is fighting the battle for Congress vote bank with rebel Babbu Ghuman, who had left Akali Dal to join Congress.
13. Mukerian: Congress Zila Parishad member from Talwara is causing worries to party candidate Rajnish Babbi.
14. Chhabewal: Congress candidate Raj Kumar is having to contend with rebel Balwinder Singh Chaudhary in this constituency.
15. Banga: The sitting Congress legislator Tarlochan Singh Sund did not get the party ticket this time. Sund is not letting it go.
16. Nakodar: Former Congress MLA Gurbinder Atwal is fighting as an independent from this seat.
17. Jalandhar (West): Former Congress Mayor Surinder Mahi has turned dissident here.
18. Sunam: Rajinder Deepa has resigned from the party and is out campaigning against the party.
19. Fazilka: Rebel Mohinder Kumar Rinwa is giving sleepless nights to Sher Singh Gubhaya’s son Davinder Singh, who has been given the ticket after his father rebelled against the Akalis.
20. Dirba: Former Tehsildaar Darshan Singh Sidhu had resigned from his job and had been campaigning for the party since the past two years. He has turned rebel after being denied the party ticket.
21. Lehra Gaga: Sham Singh Makror is proving a cause of concern for Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in the Bhattal stronghold.
22. Maud: Congress rebels singer Balkar Sidhu, Sukhraj Singh Natt, and Bhupinder Singh Gora are marring the party chances here.
23. Nihal Singh Wala: Congress leader Baldev Singh is not happy with the party preferring Akali turned Congress member Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike.
24. Budhlada: Senior Congress leaders Satpal Moolowal and Jagtar Singh have rebelled in this constituency.
25. Khanna: Rebel Harbans Kaur Dullo has opened a front against the party.
26. Atam Nagar: Kulwant Singh Sidhu has turned rebel here.
27. Kharar: Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha has rebelled after being denied the party ticket.
28. Ropar: Charanjit Singh Channi could mar the chances of Barinder Dhillon here.
29. Amloh: Jagmeet Singh Sahota has turned against offical candidate Randeep Singh Nabha.
30. Batala: Here Inder Sekhri has turned against Ashwani Sekhri.
Do we see history repeating itself for the Congress party? Among other steps, Captain Amarinder has warned of expelling the rebels from the party once and for all if they do not desist and cease their activities. Will his efforts be effective to root out this old party malaise? We will know. Soon.