Cong candidates 'retires' in favour of SAD-BJP in MC polls

Patiala, Aug 6 (UNI) Amid allegations of intimidation of Congress leaders and workers by local MP Perneet Kaur, another Congress candidate Meena Verma decided to quit the MC poll arena in favour of SAD nominee Loveleen Kaur.

Mrs Verma was the Congress candidate from ward number 40. She took the decision to retire from the contest in the presence of SAD acting president Sukhbir Singh Badal here today.

Along with Mrs Verma, a number of Congress leaders and former councillors also announced their decision to join SAD. There names are Sharda Devi, Pawan Nagrath, Rajvir Kaur, Rajinder Kaur Dhindsa, Monica Grover, Vinod Kumar Bedi and Gurbax Singh.

The polls to the MCs of Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar will be held on August 8. The campaign came to a close this evening. Earlier Harbir Singh Bira another Congress candidate from ward number 39 had declared his retirement from the contest in favour of SAD candidate Jaspal Singh.

Meanwhile, Mrs Preneet Kaur, wife of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, has alleged that SAD was indulging in petty politics and threatening Congress candidates.

Talking to reporters at the residence of Mrs Verma, she said that police were dancing to the tunes of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Mrs Verma is wife of ex councillor Narinder Pal Singh Lali, whose mother Mrs Rajinder Kaur alleged that her son was ''taken away by the cops this afternoon''.

Mrs Preneet Kaur claimed that the police had threatened another Congress candidate Harwinder Singh Nippy also. She said that matter has brought to the notice of the state Election Commissioner and the DGP.

UNI