Asked in this connection, Dr Joginder Dayal, secretary of the CPI, said that the Left parties were seriously thinking to put up a common candidate to contest the Ajnala byelection. He said that the Pasla group had also showed its interest to contest the byelection.

Dr Dayal said that Dr Satnam Singh, who had been active on the agriculture technocrats front for years and also served in the Agriculture Department, was being considered as candidate for the byelection by Left parties. He said that Dr Satnam Singh was a close relation of the late, Mr Dalip Singh Tapiala, who was a household name in the Majha belt a few decades ago. Besides, mainstream Left parties, various groups of CPI (ML) have also good following in the Ajnala belt.

The Shiromani Akali Dal( SAD) headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal would name its candidate for the Ajnala byelection on January 20 after holding meeting of its Political Affairs Committee. Mr Amarpal Singh Ajnala, son of Akali MP, Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, is expected to be SAD candidate though some other Akali leaders are also in the race for the Akali ticket. The Congress is expected to pick up Mr Harpartap Singh, son of late, Mr Harcharan Singh Ajnala, as its candidate.

“We are serious to contest the Ajnala byelection and trying our best to find a consensus candidate for the byelection”, said Dr Dayal. There was a lot to say against the ruling Congress in the byelection that would be held on February 23, he added. Almost all sections of society were against the government, added Dr Dayal.

Meanwhile, Dr Dayal said that it was wrong on the part of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), to say that Mr S.S. Virk, an IPS officer, who is expected to be next Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab, is an anti-Sikh police officer.

“Mr Virk was never anti-Sikh. He has been against terrorism and made significant contribution to wipe out terrorism from the state”, said Dr Dayal. Mr Mann had recently met the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, to oppose the extension of deputation of Mr Virk in Punjab. However, the Union Government has given the green signal to extend the deputation of Mr Virk in Punjab.