Already in troubled waters, the Punjab Congress’ ship was hit by a new wave of rebellion with 40 legislators, including four Cabinet Ministers, writing to the party high command to convene a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting, besides appointing two central observers for the State.
The letter, signed by “40 MLAs” — as per claims, maintained that a CLP meeting should be convened to chalk out a strategy for the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections, scheduled to be held in early 2022; besides discussing the party high command’s 18-point agenda given to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The letter has sought holding a CLP meeting “as soon as possible”.
Even as the “letter” to the party high command has nothing to say about the Chief Minister, it is being seen as an attempt by the rebel camp to raise the issue of seeking Capt Amarinder’s replacement during the CLP meeting. Among the signatories are the four Cabinet Ministers—Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarakaria, Charanjit Singh Channi, and other MLAs — Punjab Congress general secretary (organisation) Pargat Singh, among others, who have been vocal in seeking Capt Amarinder’s ouster as the CM.
The development came at a time when the state party affairs’ in-charge Harish Rawat has met the party chief Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday. And amidst the fresh rebellion, the party high command has once again asked Rawat to head to the state to diffuse the situation.
The power struggle between the Congress two top leaders — Capt Amarinder and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu — is far from over despite hectic efforts by the party high command to bring the two warring faction on the same page, especially when the elections are just a few months away.
While other parties are finalising its candidates and focussing on the targeted vote-banks, the ruling Congress is fighting among themselves. Even as the party high command has instructed Sidhu to stop his diatribe against his own party’s government, the Ministers and MLAs supporting him are leading the charge, raising a banner of revolt against the Chief Minister.
At several instances, they have made it clear that they would not be working under Capt Amarinder, while many others, including sitting MLA Surjit Singh Dhiman, declaring not to contest polls under his leadership.
It has been learnt that the Sidhu camp has initiated a signature campaign, demanding a CLP meeting, after holding a closed-door meeting at Tript Bajwa’s residence recently. Some meetings were also held at Pargat Singh’s house, which was also attended by Sidhu.
What actually transpired during these meetings is unknown, but it is believed that the rebel camp was devising a strategy regarding removing Capt Amarinder, and mount up support in its favour.
Sources informed The Pioneer that the signature campaign was started on Wednesday morning, with rebel leaders starting taking signatures from various leaders, and finally sending the letter to the party high command by the evening. It is being claimed that the letter has 40 signatories.
Now, the rebel camp is awaiting a reply from the high command.
Notably, about 32 legislators, including Ministers, had also attended a meeting at Tript Bajwa’s residence a few days back during which a demand to replace Capt Amarinder was raised. Later, several party MLAs, whose names were mentioned in the letter seeking Capt Amarinder’s removal, refused to be part of any such meeting.
A delegation of four Ministers and three MLAs had also met Rawat in Dehradun to press for their demand, but the state party affairs’ in-charge had made it clear to the disgruntled leaders that Capt Amarinder would remain the Chief Minister, and the state would go to polls under him.
Their attempts to raise the same demand with the party high command or senior central leaders also failed to find any favour as the Congress president refused to meet the rebel Ministers in New Delhi.
This was followed by Rawat’s three-day visit to Chandigarh, but the rebel Ministers stayed away. During his meeting with Sidhu, Rawat had again indicated that captain of the chip would not be changed at this point of time. Next day, Sidhu left for Delhi while Rawat was holding a meeting with the Chief Minister in Chandigarh.
Sidhu was told by the high command to stop his attacks and criticism of his own party’s government and the Chief Minister. Since then, Sidhu did not tweet against the Congress government or Capt Amarinder.
AICC general secretary in-charge Harish Rawat has met party supremo Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Rawat Apparently has been asked to once again head to the Punjab to settle the escalating infighting within the party.
Sources informed The Pioneer that Rawat has also spoken to the top Congress leaders in Punjab. It is believed that Rawat may soon visit Chandigarh once again, before he starts the second leg of his yatra on Saturday from Haridwar in his poll-bound home state, Uttarakhand.
