After fragmentation of sorts with the departure of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh from the party, the Congress is trying to keep its house intact. The party, on Monday, not only switched into poll mode by constituting four election panels, but also bestowed important roles to not-so-happy leaders.
The list included Punjab Congress’ former president Sunil Jakhar, who has been openly criticising the functioning of his successor Navjot Singh Sidhu and decisions taken by his own party’s government led by Charanjit Singh Channi via Twitter. Jakhar, who — at one point of time — tipped to be the Chief Minister, has been appointed the head of the Election Campaign Committee, and a member of an all-important Screening Committee for the crucial assembly elections, slated to be held early next year.
The Screening Committee — which shortlists the prospective candidates — would be headed by the former Union Minister Ajay Maken, who will be assisted by former Youth Congress president Chandan Yadav and Indian Youth Congress secretary in-charge Krishna Allavaru as committee members.
Other than that, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Punjab party affairs Harish Choudhary, Punjab Congress chief Sidhu, Chief Minister Channi, Campaign Committee Chairman Jakhar, and all AICC secretaries in-charge of the state will be the ex-officio members of the Screening Committee. The panel will screen prospective candidates and make its recommendations to the party high command. The Central Election Committee, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, will then finalise the names of party candidates.
The Congress has also appointed Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, who was among the party leaders to vociferously oppose Sidhu’s elevation to the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, has been appointed the head of Election Manifesto Committee.
Besides, former Union Minister and senior party leader Ambika Soni has been made the chairman of the Election Coordination Committee.
In the process of constituting the election panels, the party high command has apparently attempted to balance the scales between Sidhu and his critics, besides giving representation to the Hindu leaders — a section which has been feeling sidelined — by giving significant roles to Jakhar, Soni and also Maken.
HINDU LEADERS
With these appointments, the Congress has made an attempt to reach out and woo the Hindu voters. Notably, the party’s prominent Hindu face, Jakhar, was replaced by Sidhu as PPCC president. When Capt Amarinder stepped down as the Chief Minister, Jakhar emerged as the likely victor. Amidst the reports of Punjab set to get its first Hindu Chief Minister of reorganised Punjab, Channi emerged victorious giving the state its first ever Dalit Chief Minister. Since then, the party’s Hindu leaders have been feeling sidelined, with several prominent faces shifting their loyalties towards other rival parties. As of now, out of the total 80 Congress MLAs, 13 are Hindus — which is the highest for all parties.
EFFORT TO PACIFY JAKHAR
Openly criticising the functioning of Sidhu and Channi on social media, Jakhar has been given a significant role in the run up to Punjab polls. The Congress party could not afford to win another enemy in a leader like Jakhar, who enjoys a respectable and clean image in Punjab politics. Already, the party is a divided house with a cold war going on between Sidhu and Channi. Jakhar has time and again made it clear that he is a dyed-in-the-wool Congressman, and would stay with the party. The Gandhi siblings — Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi — remained in constant touch with him. In fact, Rahul Gandhi also met Jakhar in Delhi a few days back, following which he has been entrusted with this important responsibility.
‘SIDELINED’ BAJWA ENTRUSTED TASK
Also not-so-happy with the party and vocal about the unfulfilled pre-poll promises, Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa has been entrusted with the task of finalising the party manifesto for the 2022 polls. Bajwa had opened a front against Capt Amarinder, when he was the Chief Minister, over his failure to fulfil the promises the party made ahead 2017 elections, including sacrilege, drugs, unemployment, electricity, among others. Punjab Congress’ former chief, who has already made clear his intentions of contesting the ensuing polls, has reportedly been feeling sidelined since long.
ROLE TO SONI
The party has also entrusted a big role to senior party leader Ambika Soni, who has a respectable stature among all party leaders in Punjab. Not hailing from any particular camp or a group of party leaders, Soni was heard and accepted by all leaders, considering her seniority. As the head of the Election Coordination Committee, Soni is expected to keep the party together which is expected to disintegrate once the elections will be announced with Capt Amarinder set to poach the disgruntled leaders.
