Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Former PM Manmohan Singh not keen to contest elections, say sources

Citing health and age concerns, former prime minister Manmohan Singh has expressed his unwillingness to contest Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar, sources said.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, state party chief Sunil Jakhar and general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Asha Kumari met Manmohan Singh at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday evening at 5pm urging him to contest from Amritsar.

The Rajya Sabha term of the former PM, who is turning 87 this year, is ending in June. Manmohan Singh is reported to have told the Punjab Congress leaders that given his age, he would not be able to campaign. Amarinder Singh assured him that he (Amarinder) would stay put at Amritsar and campaign for him while urging him to give their request another thought.

Earlier in the day, the state screening committee comprising All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, Amarinder, Asha Kumari and Jakhar met to shortlist names for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state at the Kapurthala House, New Delhi. But with the Election Commission of India scheduling polls in Punjab in the last phase on May 19, the list is likely to be delayed.

“It was just a preliminary meeting. The names of candidates are not likely to be announced in a week, as was the plan earlier, as it would be difficult to sustain the campaign for over two months,” a senior Congress leader said.

The screening panel will meet once again before sending the shortlisted names to the central election committee headed by party president Rahul Gandhi for finalisation.

After the meeting, Amarinder Singh once again said the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) does not need an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and exuded confidence of winning all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state.