Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh today appealed to the rebels who have filed their nomination papers against the party's official candidates in the January 20 assembly polls, to withdraw from the fray.
Amarinder, who had earlier talked tough saying blackmailing tactics by rebels will not be tolerated, tried to pursuade them today.
The former Chief Minister said he understands the situation since it is everybody's aim to be part of the action when they feel party is headed back to power.
"However, given the fact that there are just 117 assembly segments against about 1500 applicants which we had received, it is obvious that several deserving candidates were left out," Amarinder said in a statement here.
The PCC President said the party was well aware and equally concerned about such leaders who have given their everything to the party and stood with it against all odds, particularly during the last five years when they had to face the 'vendetta' of Akali-BJP government.
He pointed out the rebel candidates can only harm the interest of the party.
Amarinder said it is the duty of all the party-men to work together and ensure Congress' victory in these elections in the interest of the party, party-men and Punjab as a whole.
He also said if Congress comes back to power, they will miss the bus.
"If they (rebels) do not withdraw, the party will have to take disciplinary action against all of them and they will not be the part of the government (if Congress comes to power) and there will be no possibility of their joining back even if they want," he said.
With Congress having to tackle a large number of rebels in poll fray, the party had earlier deputed its General Secretary B K Hariprasad to talk to them and dissuade them from entering the contest.
The rebels include former minister Gurkanwal Kaur, daughter of assassinated chief minister Beant Singh, who had opposed the nomination of Jagbir Singh Brar.
Brar had quit SAD to float the PPP along with Manpreet Singh Badal and recently joined Congress. Brar had defeated Gurkanwal in 2007 polls.
