Following the resignation of Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary as the Chief Whip of the Congress in the Vidhan Sabha, a palpable tension grips the party circles in Jalandhar.
Chaudhary’s resignation, attributed to the perceived denial of a ticket to him or his family for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming elections, has created a complete lull within the party’s ranks.
While some members of former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi’s team have reportedly commenced groundwork in Jalandhar, Channi himself appears to have scaled back his activities in the reserved seat temporarily. The presence of all party leaders, including MLAs Pargat Singh, Sukhwinder Kotli, Bawa Henry, Hardev S Laddi, and halqa in charges Dr Navjot Dahiya, Rajinder Beri, and Rajinder Singh, alongside Channi during his tours in Jalandhar has only added to Vikramjit’s frustration, leaving him feeling sidelined.
Speculation looms over Chaudhary’s next move, with many party members anticipating his reaction. However, most believe he will refrain from any hasty decisions such as quitting the party or his MLA position.
Currently, Chaudhary is reportedly in New Delhi and remained inaccessible on Tuesday, with his family members also unavailable for comment. Sources close to him suggest that he has employed similar tactics in the past when his mother, Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, was initially chosen as a candidate against his wishes in the 2017 Assembly elections.
The Congress, faced with growing unrest on certain seats, including Jalandhar, is expected to delay the announcement of its first list of candidates. CLP leader Partap Bajwa hinted at a possible delay, stating, “Ticket announcement may take three-four more days.”
Regarding Chaudhary’s resignation, Bajwa mentioned a lack of communication with him since the announcement.
Amidst the turmoil, reports emerge that AAP is also seeking to recruit a candidate from another party for the Jalandhar seat, with Chaudhary’s family being approached. Though initially, Minister Balkar Singh’s name was circulating, party MLAs have clarified he is no longer among the list of probables.