27 segments ‘tricky’, Punjab Congress poll panel to next meet on Jan 2

Even as Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have been supporting different candidates at public rallies, the AICC-appointed screening committee is yet to decide on at least two dozen Assembly constituencies.

In these segments, the main factors at play are the availability of multiple candidates or the poor performance of sitting MLAs in winnability surveys. The screening panel has learnt to have reached a consensus on 90 of the 117 seats. During the discussions held yesterday, the panel decided on the names of most of the ministers and sitting MLAs.

While it has been learnt that the proposed rally of Rahul Gandhi at Moga on January 3 has been postponed, another meeting on the selection of candidates has been called by the AICC on January 2.

Meanwhile, the tussle between CM Channi and Navjot Sidhu goes on over the CM face of the party even as Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Choudhary has already clarified that the CM face would not be declared before the elections.

Sidhu has been pushing for an announcement on the CM face, while Channi has been seeking “another opportunity” to serve people at rallies.

Sources said after Navjot Sidhu stepped up pressure on the party leadership to announce the CM face ahead of the polls, the top brass was keeping a close watch on his political activities.

“If the PPCC chief and the Chief Minister are not seen on the same page in the coming days, it would harm the party. The high command must sort out the differences between the two,” said a senior party leader.