Congress faces dissidence in Nabha

Patiala, Jan 24: The ruling Congress is facing threat from two rebels in Nabha, making the going tough for the party candidate Randeep Singh, in the assembly constituency.

The Congress has retained its sitting MLA Randeep Singh but the two other prominent leaders in the region -- Romesh Singla and Mahant Harwinder Khanoura-- who were vyiing for the ticket this time, have raised a banner of revolt.

Kaka Randeep Singh has the advantage of strong political background as he has taken the reins from his parents-- father former minister late Gurdarshan Singh and mother Satinder Kaur Nabha---who had earlier fought against the traditional Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate, former minister, Raja Narinder Singh.

However, former MLA, Romesh Kumar Singla, former Punjab youth Congress chief, also developed a strong clout in the constituency.

So far, Nabha'a politics has been revolving around these three families.

Romesh Kumar Singla alias Maheshi, once known as a confidant of the former minister Gurdarshan Singh, had taken on and defeated his wife and Congress candidate, Satinder Kaur as an independent candidate. Earlier, Satinder Kaur was defeated by SAD, candidate Raja Narinder Singh.

But during the last assembly elections in 2002, Congress again reposed its faith in the family of late Gurdarshan Singh and fielded his elder son, Randeep Singh, who in a multi-cornered contest defeated both Raja Narinder Singh and Romesh Kumar Singla who had contested as candidate of the National Congress Party (NCP).

When contacted, Mr Singla contended that when he was taken back into Congress fold, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had committed the party's ticket to him for Nabha seat.

''There was no question of withdrawing from the poll contest and I am firm on fighting the election as an independent,'' Mr Singla said.

According to the data available for the last assembly election for this particular seat eight candidates had contested from here and Randeep Singh was declared elected. Out of a total of 1,37,226 electors 1,07,580 voters had exercised their voting rights and out of a total of 1,07, 563 valid voters with 78.40 per cent of polling Randeep Singh got 37,453 votes (34.82 per cent), his arch rival Raja Narinder Singh, a SAD candidate, got 23,502 votes (21.85 per cent) and the NCP candidate, Romesh Kumar Singla got 22,282 (20.72 per cent).

Randeep Singh said that he had brought the matter of two party rebels into the notice of Chief Minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Shamsher Singh Dullo and also the Member Parliament (MP), Preneet Kaur.

He said that though the party had done a lot to develop the area, still the party would face the brunt of the anti-incumbency factor.

He said that now the constituency has a total of 1,62,000 voters and the constituency had 147 villages with 150 panchyats block-wise and two important towns of Nabha and Bhadson.

Meanwhile, SAD candidate, Raja Narinder Singh, it seems is reaping the benefit of his rival having a 'divided house'.

''I am already getting good response from the voters especially in the rural areas,'' he said.

UNI