Rebels queer pitch for Congress in Punjab

Amitabh Shukla / Chandigarh

With a close contest expected in the Punjab Assembly polls, the rebels have queered the pitch for the two main parties – Congress and the Akali Dal, much more for the former than the latter.

Congress is facing the onslaught of the rebels like never before so much so that there are at least a dozen to 15 “serious” independents who threaten to walk away with 2-4 thousands votes in their strongholds¸ if not more, which would practically seal the fate of the official Congress candidate. Moreover, there are at least another 15 odd candidates, all former Congress workers, who may not pose a serious threat, but are in the fray just to act as spoilers.

State Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh first appealed to the candidates to withdraw, then warned them but this had limited appeal. “Party President Sonia Gandhi was clear on the issue that indiscipline cannot be tolerated at any cost. Once the rebels are expelled for five years, they will not be allowed to return for five years,” he said.

But few are listening to the cajoling, pleading and threats issued by the Congress leadership. Senior party leaders like Oscar Fernandes and B K Hariprasad were sent from Delhi to quell rebellion and convince them to withdraw. They succeeded partially as the number of rebels has come down but still it is not in zone of comfort which the Congress would have liked.

Sources in the party said that the strategy adopted for the rebels was “old, tried and tested”. The rebels were offered posts of Chairpersons and members in Boards and Corporations, once the party forms government after the Akali-BJP defeat. A few took the bait and withdrew, others stood ground.

Congress sources claimed that more rebels could have withdrawn but for the Akali Dal funding their campaign. “The Akalis want the rebels to continue. Their campaign is being funded by them,” a party leader alleged.

The important Congress rebels include Hansraj Joshan from Jalalabad whose candidature against the official party candidate has practically given SAD President Sukhbir Badal a walkover in the constituency. Similarly in Majitha, Shalinderjit Singh Shally of Congress faces rebel Sukhjinder Raj Singh Majithia making the job of Akali Dal candidate and the brother-in-law of Sukhbir, Bikram Majithia extremely easy.

Rebel candidate from Dera Bassi, Deepinder Singh Dhillon is considered a confidante of Union Minister Preneet Kaur but is sure to ruin the chances of the official party nominee J S Randhawa. From Fatehgarh Sahib it is rebel Harbans Lal versus official candidate Kuljeet Singh Nagra. Simerpreet Kaur did not withdraw her nomination from Amritsar (North). The ticket was first allotted to her, and then it was changed and given to Sunil Dutti.

In Mukerian, Rajnish Kumar was denied a ticket even though he was a close second in the 2007 polls. The son of veteran Congress leader Kewal Krishan is set to upset the applecart of official candidate Ajit Narang. Qadian in Gurdaspur would see rebel Sucha Singh Chotepur, Kotkapura has former minister Upendra Sharma in the fray and in Ferozepur (Urban) it is former MLA Ravinder Singh Babbal in fray against the official party nominee.

Pathankot has the rebel in former MLA Ashok Sharma and is pitted against Raman Bhalla, contesting on the hand symbol. Then there are rebels in Rampura Phul, Moga, Bathinda (Urban), Talwandi Sabo, Malout, Bagha Purana, Balluana, Adampur, amongst other constituencies.

Congress sources say that the “younger rebels”, have more or less decided to opt out of the fray though the “older rebels”, those who have been in the party for decades, have spurned all efforts to woo them back.

While the BJP has no serious rebels to contend with, its ally SAD has Manpreet Kaur Dolly from Dera Bassi, Balwinder Singh Bains from Ludhiana (East) and his brother Simarjit Bains from the neighbouring Atam Nagar, Deedar Singh Bhatti contesting on PPP ticket from Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurpartap Singh Tikka from Amritsar (South) and Satbir Kataria from Patiala Rural. SAD leaders, however, dismiss the rebels as those “having no consequence” and point out that except for two, none is in a position to damage its prospects.

Interestingly, SAD too had close to 20 rebels at one point when tickets were announced. But it adopted a simple strategy. Party patron and chief minister Parkash Singh Badal visited the house of the rebels and made an emotional appeal to them. Most of them were overwhelmed to see the senior Badal at their doorstep and decided against revolting the party as their grudge was against Sukhbir for distributing tickets.

Cong strategy to woo rebels

AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad emerged as the main troubleshooter for Congress in Punjab. He, along with Oscar Fernandes with help from Capt Amarinder Singh, successfully managed to bring down the number of Congress rebels from almost 50 at one point to around 15 after the last date of withdrawal of nominations.

“Most of them who are contesting against official party candidates are not a threat. Some of them cannot get more than 200 votes and are not even known beyond their village,” Hariprasad told The Pioneer. He cajoled, convinced and logically argued with the rebels all over the state to withdraw before the last date.

Being a “neutral” face who is not into the factionalism of Punjab Congress, worked to the advantage of Hariprasad. Moreover, he was seen as a messenger from the high command whose request had to be obeyed lest he conveyed it to the top leadership. Hailing from Karnataka, he has considerable knowledge of Punjab, being a key strategist in 2002 polls in which the party won. He is also the General Secretary in-charge of neighbouring Haryana and knows all the key players well. “Some of the candidates may not have withdrawn, but they would retire and would not campaign,” the General Secretary said.

Armed with a list of the rebels from various constituencies, he keeps updating what is the latest on their front. “For Congress, this is normal. Every election, some of those who are disappointed contest as independents,” he said, adding that this hardly affects the poll prospects.

Hariprasad would spend the next fortnight in Punjab till the polling day and he has more issues to deal with like campaign strategy and deciding issues as and when they arise during the campaign period. (18.1.2012)

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