The Congress party in Punjab is navigating internal dissent as former Dhuri MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy publicly voiced his disappointment over being overlooked for the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming general elections. Goldy urged the party’s high command to honour their commitments and refrain from “betraying anyone.”
The Congress has nominated three-time MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira for the Sangrur seat, a decision that Goldy respects but questions. Goldy claimed that the party had promised him the ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections during the 2022 Sangrur bypoll.
Taking to Facebook, Goldy highlighted past instances where he was overlooked for party tickets. He questioned the party’s criteria for selecting candidates, pondering whether financial capacity or loyalty determines a leader’s stature within the party.
Goldy recalled previous elections where the Congress fielded candidates who later defected to the BJP, leaving him without a ticket despite his loyalty to the party. He emphasized his commitment to the Congress but stressed the importance of transparency and clarity in decision-making processes. Responding to Goldy’s sentiments, Khaira expressed his respect and sought Goldy’s support for the upcoming electoral battle. Khaira assured Goldy of his well-being and pledged to fight the election with dedication for the betterment of Sangrur and Punjab.
The Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, considered an AAP stronghold, sees Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer as the AAP’s candidate, challenging the current representation by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) MP Simranjit Singh Mann.
In addition to the Sangrur seat, the Congress is also facing internal challenges in Bathinda, where party leaders are discontented with the nomination of Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu as the Lok Sabha candidate.
Sidhu, who recently switched allegiance from Shiromani Akali Dal to Congress, has yet to initiate his campaign in the constituency, currently represented by SAD’s three-time MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.