Amarinder asks Congress ticket aspirants to work as a team

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today asked the 1,661 ticket aspirants of the party for the 117 Assembly seats in the state to work as a team and ensure the victory of party candidates in the 2017 polls.
"The overwhelming response for Congress tickets indicates which way the wind is blowing," he said, while expressing confidence about the party forming the government in Punjab next year.
"As there are only 117 slots, there will be 1,544 others who will not get the party nomination. I assure all of them that once we form the government, there will be plenty of options for them and they will be suitably accommodated," he said, while urging the party workers to work with "team spirit" to ensure the victory of Congress candidates.

The former Punjab Chief Minister said after the party announced that around 35 tickets would be distributed among the youth, the response from them has been overwhelming and a number of graduates and post-graduates have applied for the same, adding that young aspirants account for around 30-35 per cent of the total applicants.
Amarinder also said a large number of women candidates have also applied for Congress tickets.
He said after screening, each applicant's credentials will be verified which will be followed by the assessment of his performance at the ground level. "Details and claims will be thoroughly cross-checked," he added.

Reiterating that "winnability" will be the sole criterion for selecting candidates, Amarinder said the assessment will be carried out at multiple levels and through various channels.

He said the party has adopted a scientific, fool proof method to ensure that the best candidates get nominated.
At the same time, the state Congress chief clarified that those who do not make it to the final list will be "equal stakeholders" in government formation and will be as important as those getting the nominations.
"For the party, they are as important as the ones getting the nominations as they will be the campaign drivers," Amarinder said, while adding that their performance during the polls will qualify them for positions in the government later.

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Meanwhile, in rallies at Gill and Sahnewal Assembly segments, Amarinder described Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Badal as "cunning thieves" and said both deserve to be thrown out of the state.
Assailing the AAP leader for his "arrogance in believing people will vote for his party in his name", Amarinder asked why Kejriwal did not trust Punjabis and was stationing "outsiders" on poll duty.
"Can't he find any Punjabis to support him," he said, adding AAP did not have experienced leader to run the state.
Amarinder claimed AAP would be wiped out in the polls and Badals' will be left with no place to hide their faces after the elections.

He alleged that Kejriwal cannot be trusted as he is "infamous for making false and misleading statements", and for his "flip-flop attitude" on various issues.
Referring to the SAD patriarch's appeal to vote for him as his prestige was at stake, the state Congress chief said he would shatter Badal's prestige to smithereens in Lambi, just as the Akali leader had shattered Punjab's pride in the past 10 years.
He said he chose to fight polls from Lambi, Badal's home-turf, to give the SAD leader a good thrashing and show all politicians that they cannot get away by cheating and looting people.

Flaying the Centre for its ill-conceived implementation of demonetisation, Amarinder claimed the note-ban had devastated Punjab's industry and caused harassment to people.