NO ROLE IN SIDHU’S WIFE’S TICKET DENIAL FROM CHANDIGARH, SAYS CAPT AMARINDER, BUT FINDS BANSAL BETTER CANDIDATE
SAYS WILL QUIT IF CONGRESS IS `WIPED OUT’ IN PUNJAB IN THESE LS POLLS
Patiala, May 16
Denying any role in the denial of ticket to Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife from Chandigarh, Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday said she had been offered ticket from Amritsar and Bathinda, but she refused the same.
Ticket allocation was done by the Congress high command in Delhi, and they had chosen not to accept Navjot Kaur’s application for ticket to contest from Chandigarh, he said, adding that Chandigarh was not under Punjab and he had no role in selection of candidate from the city.
However, had he been asked, he would frankly told the high command that Pawan Bansal, the chosen candidate of the party, was a better choice, said Captain Amarinder in an informal chat with mediapersons.
To another question, the Chief Minister said he would take responsibility and would quit if the Congress was wiped out in the state in these Lok Sabha elections. All ministers and MLAs have been made responsible for the Congress party’s performance in the state, and he shared the responsibility with them, said Captain Amarinder.
The party high command had decided to hold the ministers and legislators accountable for the victory/defeat of the Congress candidates, he pointed out, adding that he was ready to take the same responsibility for the state but was confident of a sweeping victory for the party in Punjab.
Like others, he was also responsible for the party’s performance, said Captain Amarinder, quipping, “If Congress is wiped out in Punjab in these polls, what do you think I will do? Obviously I will accept responsibility and resign.”