Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Gurdaspur, September 8
The proposed entry of Major Amardeep Singh Manepur (retd), an adviser to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, has added a new angle to the political dynamics of the Gurdaspur Assembly seat.
His loyalists claim the retired Army man, considered to be the CM’s closest confidant, is sure to stake claim to the Congress ticket.
Manepur’s repeated visits to the area, the latest one being on Tuesday to GNDU Senate member Anu Gandotra’s residence, are a clear indicator that he is eying the seat. His native village falls within the jurisdiction of the Gurdaspur Assembly constituency.
“He has asked his supporters to organise health camps, blood donation events and eye-screening and cataract operation camps. Hence, it is quite obvious he is doing all this to tell the residents that he has arrived. There are several ticket aspirants and he is the latest in the line. It is apparent that he has the CM’s backing,” said an MLA.
Also on the cards is an event wherein he will meet senior citizens. He spent the entire day in his village yesterday listening to the grievances of the people. At present, the seat is represented by Congress legislator Barindermeet Singh Pahra. He is a known supporter of PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu and Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board (PSSSB) Chairman Raman Bahl, too, is an aspirant. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 elections on the party symbol. This time members of his community are busy digging out data pertaining to the caste equations. “This is a seat where a majority of the population is Hindu. When the SAD-BJP alliance was in place, this seat was always given to the BJP. So, why not give it to a Hindu face this time? And who fits the bill better than Raman Bahl?” averred a senior Congress man.
Eyes ‘Gurdaspur’
Major Amardeep Singh Manepur (retd), adviser to CM Capt Amarinder Singh, has lately been visiting the Gurdaspur constituency quite frequently. A Congress insider claimed the Chief Minister was going all out to ensure dissidents were kept out of the fray.
Punjab CM’s adviser Major Amardeep Singh Manepur (retd), all set to take political plunge
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