TARN TARAN: All four Congress MLAs from Tarn Taran district have begun lobbying for a place in newly appointed chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s cabinet through their respective political mentor or godfather. A couple of them have even sought blessings from senior Congress leaders in Delhi to ensure plum portfolios
Congress MLA from Tarn Taran assembly constituency Dharambir Agninhotri, who won the seat for Congress after nearly four decades, is said to have been lobbying to get inducted in Channi’s cabinet. Being a Hindu face from a once terrorist-infested district is another cornerstone of his push for a ministerial berth.
First-time MLA from Khemkaran assembly constituency Sukhpal Singh Bhullar will be banking on the reputation of father Gurchet Singh Bhullar, who remained the state minister. Sukhpal is also considered close to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu. He had also organised a political rally for Sidhu after he became PPCC president.
All India Sikh Students Federation former president and Congress MLA from Patti assembly constituency Harminder Singh Gill is another party leader who would be aspiring to be the minister. He has taken credit for defeating three-time MLA Adesh Partap Singh Kairon. Gill had been propagating the Congress party’s policies and has forged good ties with deputy chief ministers O P Soni and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
MLA from Khadoor Sahib assembly constituency Ramanjit Singh Sahota Sikki has reportedly approached his mentors in the Congress party, claiming to be the rightful candidate to be inducted in Channi’s cabinet
Agnihotri defeated SAD candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu from Tarn Taran assembly constituency by 14,629 votes, while Bhullar beat SAD’s Virsa Singh Valtoha from Khemkaran constituency by 19,602 votes. In Patti, Gill defeated SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s brother-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon by 8,363 votes. In Khadoor Sahib, Sikki had won over SAD’s Ravinder Singh Brahampura by 17,055 votes.
During the peak of tussle between former cheif minster Amarinder Singh and Sidhu, Gill was among the 10 legislators who, in a joint statement issued on July 18, stated that Amarinder was still the tallest leader of the masses and had hailed him for being instrumental in regaining power in Punjab in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. Gill as well as others had also offered a word of caution to Sidhu for allegedly creating a rift in the party.
