Upcoming Lok Sabha Polls: Punjab congress says no to alliance in state

Talking to mediapersons after a meeting with senior AICC leaders, the Chief Minister said they had discussed party matters, particularly related to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The AICC leaders present in the meeting included Ahmed Patel, AK Antony, Jairam Ramesh, Malikarjuna Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Captain Amarinder was joined by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jahkhar.

On the issue of alliance in Punjab, Captain Amarinder said both he and the Punjab Congress president had told the AICC leaders that the they would go on their own and win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. As far as a national alliance is concerned, it was up to the party high command to decide, he added, making it clear that the Congress in Punjab did not need any alliance.

The Chief Minister told mediapersons that he had informally taken the views of his cabinet colleagues after the cabinet meeting earlier today on the issue of alliance and all were unanimous that no tie-ups were needed and the party would win the LS polls in Punjab hands down.

To a question on legalizing cultivation of drugs in Punjab, the Chief Minister said he was not in favour of it and would not allow drugs to ruin the state. No matter what AAP MPs or others say, we don’t want any drugs to be grown in Punjab, he said.

Responding to a question on the Chandigarh issue, the Chief Minister reiterated that his government would not allow dilution of Punjab’s stake in the UT at any cost. His government, said Captain Amarinder, had categorically rejected the Union Government’s notification regarding Chandigarh UT cadre allocation.

The Chief Minister revealed that he would be meeting the Union Food Minister on Thursday to discuss the CCL and procurement issues. He would be meeting the Prime Minister next week since the latter was busy on account of the Russian President’s visit over the next two days, he added.