Capt Amarinder, Jakhar, Asha Kumari discuss Grudaspur bypoll

Candidate selection left to Congress high command, merit to be the key criterion

5 Dariya News

New Delhi 17-Sep-2017

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday met AICC in-charge of Punjab affairs, Asha Kumari, and Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar here to discuss the forthcoming Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-election.The meeting discussed the political scenario in the constituency and also mulled the various options with respect to the selection of the party candidate. It was decided that, as in the February Assembly polls, the Congress would stick to its policy of going with merit-based selection, with the final decision on candidature to vest with AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi.According to an official spokesperson, the three leaders were unanimous in their opinion that only popular candidates with a clean track record should be considered for nomination to the seat, which the party is confident of wresting from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gurdaspur LS seat was vacated as a result of the untimely death of sitting BJP candidate, actor Vinod Khanna, in April this year.Development will top the Congress agenda for the Gurdaspur by-election, which the Election Commission had notified the by-election on September 15, and which is scheduled to take place on October 11.It was decided at the meeting today that the various development works initiated by the Congress government in the state, since taking over in March this year, would constitute the key campaign plank for the party.