News Analysis India

Tag: Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi

  • Several turncoats, Cabinet ministers trailing in Punjab as AAP sweeps state

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Several party hoppers including Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa and Anil Joshi were trailing from their respective constituencies in Punjab, according to poll trends.

    The Aam Aadmi Party was leading in 89 out of total 117 assembly seats in Punjab.

    Ahead of the assembly polls, several leaders had switched sides.

    Former sports minister Sodhi had quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and contested from Ferozepur City seat.

    Sodhi, a four-time MLA from Guruharsahai in Ferozepur, was trailing from Ferozepur seat, the trends showed.

    AAP candidate Ranbir Singh was leading from Ferozepur City over his nearest rival and Congress candidate Parminder Singh Pinki.

    Former Congress leader Bajwa, who had joined the BJP, and fought from Batala seat was trailing.

    Aam Aadmi Party candidate Amansher Singh is leading from Batala seat over his nearest rival and Congress candidate Ashwani Sekhri, according to trends.

    Fateh Jang Bajwa was a sitting legislator from Qadian seat from where the Congress fielded his elder brother and Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa.

    Former Punjab minister Joshi, who quit the BJP and joined the SAD last year, contested from Amritsar North assembly seat.

    AAP candidate and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was leading over Joshi from Amritsar North seat.

    Joshi had remained legislator from the Amritsar North seat in 2007 and 2012 on the BJP ticket.

    He faced defeat in the 2017 Assembly polls.

    Former Congress leader Harjot Kamal, who too had joined the BJP, fought from Moga assembly seat.

    Kamal left the Congress after the party denied him the ticket from Moga.

    From Moga seat, AAP candidate Amandeep Kaur Arora was leading over her nearest rival and Congress candidate Malvika Sood Sachar, who is sister of actor Sonu Sood.

    Former Punjab minister and three-time MLA Joginder Singh Mann, who joined the AAP after snapping his 50-year-old ties with the Congress, fought from Phagwara seat.

    However, Congress candidate Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal was leading over BSP nominee Jasvir Singh Garhi from Phagwara seat.

    Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lali Majithia, who joined the AAP after leaving the Congress, tried his luck from Majitha assembly segment.

    SAD candidate Ganieve Kaur Majithia is leading from Majithia assembly segment.

    Raman Bahl, who left the Congress last year and joined the AAP, fought from Gurdaspur seat.

    SAD candidate Gurbachan Singh Babehali was leading over Congress candidate and sitting MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra from Gurdaspur seat.

    Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and most of his Council of Ministers were trailing in their respective constituencies, as per the trends at 12 pm.

    Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who contested from two constituencies, Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district and Bhadaur seat in Barnala, is trailing in both as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates are leading the race.

    Channi is the sitting MLA from Chamkaur Sahib.

    Most of Channi’s ministers, who had succeeded Amarinder Singh after his unceremonious exit as the chief minister in September last year, were also trailing.

    From Amritsar Central seat, Minister O P Soni was trailing behind AAP’s Ajay Gupta while Raj Kumar Verka was behind AAP’s Jasbir Singh Sandhu from Amritsar West.

    Manpreet Singh Badal was behind AAP’s Jagroop Gill from Bathinda Urban seat while from Gidderbaha, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was trailing behind Akali Dal’s Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon.

    From Sangrur, Vijay Inder Singla was trailing behind AAP’s Narinder Kaur Bharaj.

    Pargat Singh was trailing behind AAP’s Surinder Singh Sodhi from Jalandhar Cantonment and Bharat Bhushan Ashu was behind AAP’s Gurpreet Bassi Gogi from Ludhiana West.

    Razia Sultana was behind her nearest AAP rival Mohammed Jamil-ur-Rahman from Malerkotla seat.

    Sangat Singh Gilzian was trailing behind AAP’s Jasvir Singh Raja Gill from Urmar seat.

    Ministers Rana Gurjeet Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa were leading.

    As per the trends at 12:15 pm, the Aam Aadmi Party appeared to be heading for a clean sweep in Punjab, having taken a lead in 90 of the 117-Assembly seats.

  • Former Punjab minister urges PM Narendra Modi to repeal farm laws

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi on Sunday urged PM Narendra Modi to repeal the contentious farm laws so that farmers return to their homes before harsh winter, stressing hundreds of them have died during the course of their agitation.

    Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and UP, have been camping at the Delhi borders since November 26 last year, demanding the repeal of the three new farm laws. “The country has been witnessing farmers’ protest for over a year now. While we have seen farmers stand united and determined to have their voices heard, there are also those hundreds of farmers who have lost their lives while fighting for their rights,” the Congress MLA said.

    It is most unfortunate that the protesting farmers continue to live in extreme conditions without essentials, proper availability of sanitation and clean drinking water, he said.

    “Their persistence despite their continued plight has only shown their resolve that they will not settle down until a rational decision of repealing the controversial farm laws is agreed upon,” said Sodhi in a statement here.

    Sodhi urged the PM to re-initiate talks with farmers and withdraw the laws so that farmers could return to their homes before the onset of harsh winter.

    “Also, considering that the festivities are approaching, it’ll only be fair that they celebrate the festival with their families and not on the roads,” said Sodhi.

    “It is our basic empathy that they should be able to celebrate this Diwali with their families and the coming year with fulfilment and prosperity,” he said.

    Sodhi said the withdrawal of the three farm laws in no way would reflect the “weakness” of the Union government as argued by certain sections of society, rather it would show the Centre to be “large-hearted and magnanimous”. “I earnestly request PM Modi to kindly revisit the decision in favour and interest of our farmers,” he said.

  • Amarinder’s dinner diplomacy to show clout amid crisis in Punjab Congress

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  Embattled Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday managed to draw 58 MLAs and eight MPs to a dinner hosted by his supporter in a clear show of strength.

    The dinner diplomacy comes a day after the AICC stated Amarinder would lead the Congress’ charge in the upcoming Assembly polls amid rebellion by four ministers and 28 MLAs.

    Punjab Assembly has 117 seats, with Congress legislators occupying 80 of them.

    Sources in the Amarinder camp claimed the dinner was hosted by Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi at his official residence and was attended by 58 MLAs and eight MPs.

    Notable absences were those of transport minister Razia Sultana and food Supplies minister Bharat Bhusan Ashu. While a few rebel MLAs attended, the four rebel ministers were absent.  

    Observers said the dinner diplomacy was a clever move, as it was not hosted by Amarinder but by his loyalist Sodhi and the large gathering indicated the rebellion has been quelled. Raveen Thukral, media advisor to Amarinder, tweeted: “I had invited like-minded @INCPunjab MPs & MLAs for dinner. 58 MLAs & 8 MPs graciously accepted my invitation & expressed the confidence that the party would win the 2022 polls under the leadership of @capt_amarinder. The journey has started today’: @iranasodhi.’’

    An MLA, who was present at the dinner, said, “It is a show of strength against the Opposition. Navjot Singh Sidhu is part of the party and this event presents a united front.”

    When asked about the rebellion, he said: “They are our family and they will come back. They could not attend the dinner as they are in Delhi.” 

    Action against Mali, Garg

    Meanwhile, the high command has told Sidhu to drop his aides Malwinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg. The action comes in the wake of the controversy created by their statements on Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. 

    Sources said Rawat had earlier asked Sidhu to rein-in Mali and Garg, but later told him to drop them. Later, Rawat said if Sidhu did not sack them, then he would.