Saturday, 05 June 2021 | Monika Malik | Chandigarh
Firmly in saddle, political war horse Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will lead the Congress in the electoral battle earlier next year with firebrand Navjot Singh Sidhu, probably, as his second in command.
Information trickling out of the Chief Minister’s three-hour-long meeting with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) panel indicates that Capt Amarinder would remain the party and the Government’s face in Punjab.
Sidhu is likely to make a comeback in the Cabinet with a “big responsibility” in the party, along with other “traditional Congressmen”. “Big changes” in the State Cabinet is also on the cards.
Amarinder met the panel headed by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge at the AICC headquarters. AICC secretary general in-charge for Punjab Harish Rawat and former MP JP Aggarwal are the other members of the panel.
The meeting that discussed in detail performance of all legislators and also the Ministers, was also joined by Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi “virtually” along with some other senior leaders, including Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal.
After appearing before the three-member panel in the national Capital, Capt Amarinder told the media that the meeting was for internal discussions ahead of the State Assembly elections. “These are party discussions, Assembly elections are due to be held in next six months,” he said.
Indications are that the meeting’s prime agenda was to bridge the gulf between the party leaders, Capt Amarinder and Sidhu included, and ensure that the Congress put up a united face before going to the polls early in 2022. Every issue pertaining to the party and the State were discussed.
Capt Amarinder is believed to have brought along with him a complete dossier, including all documents and evidence, about every MLA’s performance, their standing in their segments, and also their wrongdoings and business interests. That was not all! The Chief Minister also brought along with him all records regarding all other party leaders at places where there was no Congress MLA.
The development assumes significance as the clamour for change in State leadership, both in the Government and also in the State party unit, gained momentum during the past five days, when the party leaders, including the Chief Minister’s bête noire, raised their voices against the current leadership.
Arriving at around 11 am at the Congress’ war room in New Delhi, Capt Amarinder was said to have defended his Government against the criticism and allegations by the party leaders, led by Sidhu, Bajwa, among others.
Rahul and Priyanka, who joined the meeting virtually, were briefed about the main points emerged from the deliberations with Punjab leaders held over the period of past four days.
Among the issues discussed included governance, revamping Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Sidhu’s role, ways to enhance party’s prospects for 2022 polls, among others.
Sources informed The Pioneer that the party high command, before the start of these meeting with the three-member panel, had made up its mind to appoint Sidhu as Punjab party chief.
However, the Chief Minister has categorically opposed the move underlining that running the Government would be difficult for him with Sidhu in charge of the party in Punjab.
Available information suggests that the former cricketer is set to make a comeback in the State Cabinet, and may also get his choice of portfolio. Besides, he may also be given a “big responsibility” in the State party unit.
There are also reports that “taksali” (traditional) Congress leaders like Shamsher Singh Dullo, Rainder Kaur Bhattal, Partap Singh Bajwa, among others including former party presidents, may also be given huge responsibilities ahead ensuing polls.
It has been learnt that Sidhu may also be given the post of Deputy Chief Minister, but the question is whether this would be acceptable to Sidhu.
Sources maintained that the high command is mulling over appointing two deputies to the Chief Minister – in an apparent attempt to do a balancing act between the two factions. Sidhu and one more leader may be appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers.
At the same time, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Bajwa had vociferously opposed Sunil Jakhar as Punjab Congress chief while blaming him for low morale among the party cadre at the grassroots as he failed to constitute the Congress committees at the district and block levels for more than a year now.
There are reports that party reorganisation may also undergo a change and it is to be seen if Jakhar would continue to lead the party for the next polls or the High Command would find his replacement. Already, the State party affairs in-charge Harish Rawat has sought to relieve him from the responsibility considering the ensuing polls in his home state, Uttarakhand, which is scheduled to go to polls along with Punjab in 2022.
A Cabinet reshuffle also appeared to imminent with some “non-performing” Ministers set to lose the berth in Capt Amarinder’s Council of Ministers, with the induction of some new faces. Lobbying is already on with several leaders still putting up in the national Capital.
As majority of Congress leaders, who appeared before the three-member panel comprising the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharge, State party affairs’ in-charge Harish Rawat, and senior party leader JP Aggarwal, raised the sacrilege issue and pressed for resolving the same before going to the polls, the party has asked the Chief Minister to look into the same.
Capt Amarinder, it has been learnt, presented a strong defence of his Government informing the Committee about the progress made by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Bargari sacrilege, while underling that the law would take its own course.
It has also been learnt that a high-level meeting, comprising senior Government officials, were held at the State Civil Secretariat on Friday.
Sidhu and Bajwa have been leading the offensive against the Chief Minister accusing him of “deliberate delay” and “laxity” in punishing the guilty in the Bargari case, while accusing Capt Amarinder of “playing friendly match” with the Badals.
In fact, two Cabinet Ministers – Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi – have also opened their front against the Chief Minister over the sacrilege issue, and had even offered to resign.
Following the five-day long deliberations, that started on Monday and concluded on Friday with the Chief Minister, the panel is expected to submit a report to the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi by the weekend for her to take the final call.
“The party chief would be out for two-three days, we will be preparing our report and submit it on her return,” said Rawat.
