RANA GURJIT’S MASTERSTROKE TO COMBAT SAD-BSP ALLIANCE IN DOABA REGION
Kapurthala, June 22-
In a move aimed at strengthening the Congress party for effectively combating the SAD-BSP alliance in Doaba region, the Congress strategist and affluent leader of the region MLA Rana Gurjit Singh has started cozying up with the influential Dalit leaders of the party, who have been hitherto marginalized in the party.
The former Minister and MLA met an influential SC leader of the party and three time ex-MLA Phagwara Joginder Singh Mann, who is currently the Chairman of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, on Sunday. The meeting between both the leaders assume significance as Mann, a former Punjab Minister and nephew of tallest Dalit leader of country late Sardar Buta Singh, has a lot of mass appeal particularly amongst the Valmiki/ Mazhbi Sikh community across the state. Mann, who has been in politics from last five decades, has been able to maintain his clean image in public life and is revered by SC community across the party line.
In fight against SAD-BSP alliance, which is likely to pose serious challenge to Congress in Doaba region, Mann is considered a lethal weapon as despite of the fact that Phagwara has been strong hold of BSP, Mann has never allowed the Elephant to grow in his home constituency nurtured by him since 1980. Mann’s direct contact with people along with his Sikh face has helped him to overcome all the challenges. Though Mann lost 2017 poll with a narrow margin and was later denied ticket by Congress in by-poll but then also he continues to be the most popular leader of party in Phagwara.
His bold views on action against the ruling party politicians involved in embezzlement of funds for post matric scholarship scheme has also enhanced his popularity amongst the community. However, from last few years Mann has been marginalized in party politics due to which reports of SAD and AAP leaders wooing him had also surfaced. But Mann had repeatedly refuted all such reports.
Rana, a farsighted and shrewd politician, is considered very close to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and realizing well that competition against SAD-BSP alliance with AAP and BJP too flexing the muscles could be very tough has played this smart move. In this neck to neck competition when every single vote will be count Rana aims at sweeping all the seats of Doaba for Captain to make him the Chief Minister of state again. Highly placed sources revealed that by bringing Mann on his side Rana wants further strengthen the party base amongst SCs on one hand and want to maintain his supremacy in Doaba on the other by countering his arch rivals Navtej Cheema and Sukhpal Khaira who have recently joined hands.
Pertinently, Congress cadres in Doaba are already down with senior bureaucrat Kirpa Shankar Saroj’s report indicting senior politicians from Malwa and Doaba in SC post matric scholarship scheme. The Congress leaders believe that party’s stance to shield these accused will be detrimental for it in coming polls and Dalits of doaba may opt for other choice. But amidst this Rana’s strategic move is likely to pay dividends to Congress party by infusing new lease of life in Congress workers in Doaba region.
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