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Punjab Congress chief locked in keen contest

His main rival, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, a former MLA, claims he is the ``favourite''

LUDHIANA: An interesting fight is on the cards here in the Khanna constituency of the Punjab Assembly with the main contestants, State Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo and Bikramjit Singh Khalsa going all out to wrest the reserved seat.

Shamsher Singh Dullo, who won twice from the constituency, now represented by his wife Harbans Kaur, is leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters.

Playing every card in his pack, he harps on the fight against terrorism, the sacrifices of the Congress leaders and the party's role in elevating Sikhs to top posts during his election rallies.

``It is only the Congress party that has made a Sikh, Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, and another Sikh, General J. J. Singh, the Army Chief,'' he says.

But his main rival, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, a former MLA, claims he is the ``favourite'' and will return ``triumphant'' in the February 12 election, riding on Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP backing, anti-incumbency factor, family legacy and Tohra loyalty.

Bikramjit's father Basant Singh Khalsa was a Member of Parliament from the area and his mother Balbir Kaur Khalsa had also successfully contested the Ropar (R) Parliamentary seat of which Khanna is an important segment.

Chautala campaigns in favour of Badal

Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala on Friday began his election campaign here in Amritsar in favour of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) candidates.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Chautala said he would remain in Punjab till February 11 campaigning for Akali candidates and would not even hesitate to campaign for BJP candidates since the Akali Dal (Badal) has an alliance with the BJP in the State.

``I don't have good relations with BJP, but to give defeat to Congress party in Punjab I would not hesitate to campaign for BJP candidates on the recommendation of former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal. I understand that Akali Dal Badal is the fit party in Punjab to defeat the Congress, and for this purpose I stand with the Akalis,'' said Mr. Chautala.

``I agree that I have difference with the BJP, but in Punjab I would help the BJP candidates on the recommendation of Parkash Singh Badal, since I have very good relations with him,'' he added.

Modi to visit Punjab

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will visit Punjab for party campaign on Sunday, the BJP said o Friday, two days after opponents of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Chief Parkash Singh Badal pledged protests against his planned tour to the State.

``Modi will visit Punjab on February 4,'' party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

He is likely to visit Jalandhar and Amrtisar, Naqvi, who is in charge of the party's election programme, added.

The BJP's plans to use Modi in the Punjab campaign have invited strong reaction from hardline Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann, who has pledged statewide protests against the visit of the Gujarat Chief Minister over allegations against him in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. Naqvi said Modi would also visit Uttrakhand on February 12 for the party campaign there. PTI

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Punjab Congress chief locked in keen contest

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