Punjab Cong to ditch big rallies for 2017 Assembly polls

Punjab Congress has decided to hold various block-level interaction programmes with the public, rather than organising big rallies in the run up to the 2017 Assembly elections.
Despite a successful and massive rally at Bathinda (ruling Badal's stronghold constituency) on December 15, the Opposition has decided to redraw their poll strategy.
"We are changing our programme. Instead of having big rallies, we are going to hold interaction programme with public.
"The programme will be held at block level or so. The politicians will interact with the people as sometimes people who attend rallies return with some unanswered questions. We want to hold question and answer sessions with the public," Amarinder Singh told media here today.

The leader noted that education at the moment was a big issue in the state with poor people unable to provide quality education to their children.
"We have to improve education in a big way. Job creation is another issue. We need to have new policy for industry. We have to give a level playing field to the industry for attracting more investment," he said.

On allegations of not visiting his constituency Amritsar, the Lok Sabha MP said, "I am interested in state politics. Congress President (Sonia Gandhi) wanted me to contest (Lok Sabha polls) and I contested as I could say no to her (Sonia). She told me that after you win the seat, if you want to go back to Punjab you can go back to Punjab. I won the seat. This does not mean that I am ignoring Amritsar."

"I go there at least once or twice a month. This is the job of MP. Corporation is in Akalis' hands, assemblies are in their hands. Everything is in their hands. We cannot do anything other than meeting people," he said.
However, the leader admitted that he was not attending Parliament.
"We were holding rallies in Punjab. We held 46 rallies in the state to strengthen the party," he said.
On Congress leader turned AAP member Sukhpal Khaira's allegation that Badal and Amarinder were hand in glove in corruption cases, the former Chief Minisiter clarified that he had "zero contact" with Badals.

Amarinder Singh also hit out at the SAD-BJP state
government for ordering a probe into the alleged thrashing of a journalist in Patiala jail by Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh.
"They are trying to make a case against Kanwar Sandhu. It is like gagging the press. The state government is getting desperate and trying to vent its frustration on everybody," he said.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president said the state unit will press for the early announcement of candidates for the 2017 assembly elections.
He said that the PCC was being reconstituted and it will be announced by the first week of January.

Meanwhile, several party members of SAD, BSP and AAP today joined Congress in the presence of Amarinder Singh, former union minister Manish Tewari, Congress leaders Jagmeet Singh Brar, Laal Singh and Sunil Jakhar.
From Sunam, 31 workers of SAD led by Inder Mohan Singh Lakhmirwala, Member SGPC Sunam and 21 members including Circle incharges of Aam Aadmi Party from Sangrur joined Congress.
From Moga, 10 people belonging to SAD and some independents, including Narinderpal Singh Sidhu Councilor SAD and 10 BSP workers from Talwandi Sabi joined Congress.
Speaking on the occasion, Amarinder said that while the SAD-BJP alliance was on its way out, the AAP was no challenge to the Congress in the state.