Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh rubbished reports of "backend talks" with the Congress leadership to retain him in the party. He confirmed that he will not stay in Congress now.
Earlier, following the former Chief Minister's announcement of launching a new party, The Tribune had reported that ‘senior Congress leaders are learned to be engaged in backend talks to persuade the former CM to stay in the party’.
The newspaper reported Congress insiders as saying that the party didn't want Singh fielding candidates against Congress nominees in the upcoming Punjab elections.
Captain Singh, while announcing his plans for a new party, had said that many leaders were already in touch with him and that he'd reveal their names at an "opportune moment". He has also said that his new party plans to contest on all 117 assembly seats in Punjab and is discussing a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP.