Majithia comes with Sukhbir, candidate speculations start

Ludhiana: The SAD president and former deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who was accompanied by former minister Bikram Singh Majithia for appointing the former Lok Insaaf Party leader Vipan Sood as party general secretary triggered new speculations about former’s name being considered as a party candidate from Ludhiana. Absence of senior leader Maheshinder Grewal till now considered amongt the most probables and his staunch supporter MLA Sharanjit Singh Dhillow further added fuel to speculations though junior Badal played down the issue later.
“The name will be declared in next couple of days as today we have come for the joining of Vipan Sood in the party and there is nothing to be read in the absence of Maheshinder and Sharanjit Dhillon as they must be busy somewhere,” said Sukhbir while responding to the queries of media.

Notably names of Grewal the former advisor to the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal along with former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillow, Students Organization of India president Parminder Singh Brar and Daljeet Singh Cheema have been doing the rounds from Ludhiana in the party circles for quite sometime. Sources indicated that sensing the possibility of denial of ticket Grewal and Sharanjit who is former’s staunch supporter may be sulking or trying to use some pressure tactics ahead of final decision.

However on his part, Majithia declined to say anything on his candidature and asked media persons to ask party president. And though Sukhbir Badal left the venue soon, Majithia remained there for sometime and was seen engaged with supporters and local leaders who were taking selfies with him.

He however took a jibe at Ravneet Bittu and Simarjit singh Bains saying, "The Congress MP Ravneet Bittu did nothing in past five years and if he had done anything in his tenure he would not have put boards across the city to count all the achievements. As far as Bains is concerned he is trying to win world with power but he has forgotten that public love cannot be won by such tactics." Both Bains and Bittu had challenged Majithia to contest from Ludhiana seat against them.

While talking to media both Sukhbir and Majithia welcomed the move of ECI to transfer of IGP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh a senior member of Special Investigation Team (SIT), that is looking into Kotakpura and Bargari firing incidents. Both the leaders claimed that Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was working as mouth piece of Congress and was trying to damage the image of Akali Dal in Punjab being SIT member in case. Majithia said Congress should have given him ticket to contest elections instead.

Besides Vipan Sood, who was inducted as state unit’s general secretary, president of Shukla Yuva Brigade, Sandeep Shukla also joined party along with his supporters. The SAD district president Ranjit Dhillon had brought them for joining the party. Shukla is a young leader in Giaspura area and he has contested MC elections as independent candidate in the past.