Former minister and Congress leader, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, on Sunday dubbing party candidate from Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat Chaudhary Santokh Singh as arrogant said he will support the Congress in the elections for the sake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Philluar, who joined Congress in 2016, said that the candidate must take help of local leaders but Chaudhary declined my support in Philluar, the seat which myself represented for more than 35 years as MLA and minister. “I planned a rally after talking with Congress MLAs of the district and former cabinet minister and MLA Rana Gurjit Singh in Philluar in support of Chaudhary. But Rana Gurjit Singh informed me that Chaudhary had declined to come to the rally,” added Phillaur.

He said that he has asked his supporters to help Chaudhary win the election so that the Congress can form government at the centre. “Do not worry about individuals. The chief minister himself had tasked me with providing maximum support to the party from Phagwara and Philluar constituencies,” said Philluar.

Attacking Chaudhary’s son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, the Congress leader said Vikram lost the last assembly polls in 2017 from Phillaur constituency despite CM Amarinder Singh’s wave in the state and also because he did not take my support.

Earlier, Amarinder Singh himself had to pacify sulking Mohinder Singh Kaypee, who was unhappy with the candidature of Santokh Singh. Similarly, Rana Gurjit Singh had to pacify Sushil Kumar Rinku, MLA from Jalandhar (west) constituency, who too had several differences with Chaudhary.

Vikramjit Singh said that we are not in talking terms with Philluar as he had played negative role during 2017 assembly polls and had asked his supporter to vote for the Aam Aadmi Party candidate. “Philluar wanted to be part of the winning team and it is good if he realised that. It is better late than never,” he said.

First Published: May 06, 2019 11:44 IST