New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, state affairs in-charge Asha Kumari and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Kumar Jakhar met India’s former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Sunday evening 5 pm at his resident and aand urged him to contest from the Amritsar parliamentary seat in the single-phase May 19 Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Accompanied by Congress incharge for Punjab affairs Asha Kumari and Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, Capt Amarinder told the former PM that the state organisation unanimously wanted him to run from the historic seat and that the state unit would be honoured should he accept the proposal.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is reportedly in favour of the idea of fielding the former Prime Minister for the Lok Sabha elections with the party convinced that Dr Singh’s presence will boost its prospects not only in Punjab but across India too.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is learnt to have smiled when Amarinder urged him “not to say no to the suggestion and think it over”. The former PM said he was retired and too old to run an election campaign. He also said he was grateful for the proposal but too frail to accept it.
Citing health and age related concerns, India’s former prime minister Manmohan Singh has expressed his unwillingness to contest Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar, media reports read.
The Rajya Sabha term of Manmohan Singh will need in the coming June. Reportedly, Manmohan Singh have told the Punjab Congress leaders that given his age, he would not be able to campaign for the elections.
