The Congress party convened a Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting at its New Delhi headquarters, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, to finalise Lok Sabha candidates for Punjab and other states.
The meeting included senior Congress leaders from Punjab, focusing on the upcoming polling for the state's 13 Lok Sabha seats scheduled for June 1.
Congress, contesting independently in Punjab, nominated candidates like Gurjeet Singh Aujla for Amritsar, Amar Singh for Fathgarh Sahib, and Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu for Bhatinda, among others. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi was named the candidate for Jalandhar.
Contrary to other states, where they are allied, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress are contesting separately in Punjab. AAP recently announced its candidates, including Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar for Ferozpur and Amansher Singh for Gurdaspur.
Yesterday, Tajinder Singh Bittu's departure from Congress to BJP added to the party's woes. Bittu, resigning as AICC Secretary-in-Charge of Himachal Pradesh, joined BJP at its headquarters in Delhi in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and party general secretary Vinod Tawde.
His exit amplifies the series of high-profile exits from Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
In the 2019 elections, the INC-led UPA alliance secured eight seats in Punjab, while the NDA won four, and AAP claimed one seat in its debut. As Punjab gears up for another round of elections, the political landscape witnesses significant shifts and realignments.
The CEC meeting signifies Congress' strategic efforts to finalise its candidates for a crucial electoral battleground, amidst a backdrop of heightened political activity and defections.
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