Talking to newspersons at historic Qila Mubarak at the birthday anniversary of Baba Ala Singh, founder of Patiala city and forefather of royal family, Preneet said she was not worried who the SAD candidate would be, as it was their prerogative to field anyone, even the party president. She said, “We will fight and not leave the field at any cost.”

When asked about the royal family’s preference between Patiala and Bathinda, she said, “This was the prerogative of the Congress president and the high command.”

Her son Raninder Singh, who is also Punjab Congress general secretary, has been seeking ticket from Bathinda. When asked about the prospects of fielding Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh by the Congress, she said, “It will be decided by the Congress high command and the Prime Minister himself.”

She, however, admitted that the Prime Minister has given more funds to Punjab in the last two years as compared to the tenure of the last Congress regime in the state.

“While the Prime Minister was generous towards Punjab, present SAD-BJP government has not utilised the funds properly,” she alleged.

Commenting on a group of disgruntled Congressmen, who have been raising voice against her candidature, she said it was a democratic system and the candidate would be chosen by the high command.