Badal challenges Congress to field Rahul Gandhi from state

SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said Congress should field Rahul Gandhi from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency in the state to "test the waters".

Commenting on media reports that state unit of Congress wanted former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to contest from Bathinda against his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur, Badal said Rahul Gandhi should contest from there.

"Instead of shifting responsibility on a local leader, Congress should ask its national Vice President Rahul Gandhi to test the waters from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat," a press statement quoting the Chief Minister said.

According to reports, Amarinder Singh's name for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat has been suggested by state unit of Congress even though the former Chief Minister had announced recently that he will not contest from the seat.

Bathinda Lok Sabha seat is represented by Harsimrat Kaur, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.