Kanhaiya Kumar, Punjab CM Charanjeet Singh Channi to campaign in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: The Congress central leadership has cleared names of Kanhaiya Kumar and Punjab chief minister Charanjeet Singh Channi for the 10-member star campaigners’ list. Names of the remaining eight are under consideration as clearance for them is yet to come from the central leadership.

Sources said the local Congress leadership was pushing hard for the presence of Kanhaiya Kumar in the city. The party feels that Kumar, who recently joined the party, is a good orator and his influence could be put to good use. “Since most voters in the city belong to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Kumar will be highly influential for them and his presence will make an effect,” a senior leader said.

With the election commission only approving 10 star campaigners for political parties in the upcoming MC elections, sources in the Congress said they wanted charismatic and popular leaders. Sources in the party said that names of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat were also in the list but confirmation is awaited.

“While party leaders are demanding cabinet minister of Punjab like Raja Warring, former Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and some other sitting cabinet ministers of Punjab, the final confirmation is yet to come. A few local Congress leaders have personal relations with Punjab leaders and they can call them in small programmes and gatherings,” sources said.

Box: Bansal playing key role

Sources said former city MP and Union minister

Pawan Kumar Bansal

is playing a key role in this exercise. He is working hard to bring good orators and influential leaders to the city for rallies and gatherings. Bansal and Congress local president Subhash Chawla are meeting on a regular basis to take major decisions like selection of candidates, ensuring good star campaigners, election planning etc. Although the party’s Chandigarh in-charge is being kept in the loop, Bansal is leading this exercise.