Congress picks Dullo, Bajwa for Punjab Rajya Sabha polls

Former Union ministers Ashwani Kumar and M.S. Gill were on Thursday denied renomination to the Rajya Sabha by the Congress, which made former Punjab PCC chiefs Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo its candidates for the coming polls to the Upper House from the state.

By nominating Mr Bajwa, the Congress has sought to reward him for making way for Capt. Amarinder Singh as the PCC chief a few months ago, ahead of the crucial Assembly elections scheduled early next year.

With the nomination of Mr Dullo, a prominent dalit leader, the Congress has sought to woo the jats and the dalits, who comprise a sizeable section in the poll-bound state. Friday is the last date for filing of nominations.

“Congress president Sonia Gandhi has nominated Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo as the party nominees for the Rajya Sabha election for the state,” AICC general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Punjab Shakeel Ahmed said. Mr Bajwa, till the other day, was known as a prominent detractor of Capt Amarinder Singh, but Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi appeared to have succeeded in bringing about unity in the state Congress which is out of power for the past nine years now.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi finalised the names for the Rajya Sabha nominations during the day after holding consultations with various leaders.

Sources said Capt Singh had suggested nominating Sunil Jakhar, a jat and former CLP leader in the state. The name of dalit leader and singer Hans Raj Hans, who has joined the Congress a few days ago, was also being considered earlier but was dropped at the last minute.

Mr Bajwa and Mr Dullo will file their nominations in Chandigarh on Friday on seats that are falling vacant due to retirement of Mr Kumar and Mr Gill, both of whom have enjoyed two consecutive terms in the Upper House.