Laying to rest all speculations about contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Sangrur, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said she would prefer to remain in state politics only. “

I have not staked a claim on the party ticket nor have any of my relatives. I have not spoken to Captain Amarinder Singh about it either. But if the party asks me to contest, I will obey their wishes,” said Bhattal, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly.

She was in Ludhiana today to attend the wedding of the niece of Jassi Khangura, the Congress MLA from Kila Raipur.

Recently, Amarinder Singh, the chairman of the Election Campaign Committee of the Congress, had termed Bhattal as a “very strong candidate” and expressed the possibility of fielding her from Sangrur.

Lashing out against the state government, Bhattal said the people of the state had been burdened with heavy taxes.

“Fearing the wrath of the public, the government has not presented this year’s budget. How credible is a government which cannot present a general budget after two years of its tenure?” she questioned.

Former Punjab finance minister Surinder Singla, who also attended the wedding, said he was ready to contest from Amritsar but had not yet asked for a party ticket.

‘Cong leaders request Galib not to leave’

Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said she would appeal to Gurcharan Singh Galib not to leave the Congress and join another political party. “He has a right to stake a claim on a particular seat but if he is denied a ticket by the party high command, he should take it in his stride,” she said. She added that Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee was also urging Galib not to leave the party. Speculations are rife that former Congress MP Galib is planning to join the Shiromani Akali Dal.