Chandigarh, March 26: A section of the state Congress leaders is upset at the appointment of Raman Bahl as the chairman of the reconstituted Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board.
Gurdaspur MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra, whose candidature for the 2017 Assembly elections had reportedly been opposed by Bahl initially, is learnt to have tendered his resignation to PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar.
Pahra did not respond to calls, while Jakhar said he was not aware of any such development. Sources in the party said the MLA had raised an objection before the Chief Minister on Saturday.
In party circles, it is being said that Bahl was rewarded for helping the PPCC chief win the Gurdaspur parliamentary byelection.
A senior Congress leader said, “There is resentment among party leaders from Gurdaspur over not being consulted ahead of Bahl’s appointment.
Leaders who opposed the candidature of party candidates during the Assembly elections are being rewarded with plum posts.
”Pahra is the grandson of former Akali MLA late Kartar Singh Pahra. In 2009, the Pahras had quit the Akali Dal and joined the Congress after the police booked the family in several cases, allegedly at the behest of Akali leader Gurbachan Singh Babbehali.
Pahra had been preferred over Bahl, son of ex-minister Khushal Bahl, for the party ticket from the Gurdaspur Assembly seat last year.
Bahl had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 elections on the Congress ticket. “Those who had withdrawn from the contest have to be accommodated,” another senior party leader said.
Source Tribune India
