Days after Congress MP from Patiala Preneet Kaur gave enough indications that she would soon be the part of her husband Capt Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Lok Congress, the party high command on Wednesday issued her a show cause notice for “anti-party” activities, seeking explanation on her stand while within week’s time.

The notice, issued by the All India Congress Committee’s state party affairs in-charge Harish Choudhary, also made it clear that in case she failed to explain her stand within a period of seven days “otherwise the party will be forced to take necessary disciplinary action”.

Notably, coming as a setback for the ruling Congress party in Punjab, its Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, on Sunday, had indicated that she may join the new political party, floated by her husband and Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder.

“Capt Amarinder Singh has always stood by the commitment he makes. Main apne parivaar de naal haan (I am with my family),” said Preneet while talking with the media at an event in Samana on Sunday. Preneet, who has not yet resigned from the Congress party to join her husband’s new political outfit, has been actively participating in many meetings and events in Patiala.

In fact, Capt Amarinder has also, at many times, pooh-poohed media queries regarding Preneet joining his new political venture.

Capt Amarinder is currently working on his party and, at the same time, warming up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As of now, Capt Amarinder is the lone soldier in his new outfit. His staunch supporters and loyalists in the Congress have adopted a wait and watch policy.

The former Chief Minister had announced that his Punjab Lok Congress would contest all 117 assembly seats in the state. At the same time, Capt Amarinder has repeatedly made it clear that he was “looking forward” to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP, after the Prime Minister announced to repeal the controversial farm laws.

Sources informed The Pioneer that the former Chief Minister was in the process of identifying the potential leaders, especially in the ruling Congress, who could shift their loyalties to his party.

Capt Amarinder, as of now, is waiting for the registration of his political party, and soon after he would kickstart his campaign. The sources claimed that many leaders are ready to cross over to his camp, but are waiting for the right time.

Choudhary, in the notice, observed that the party high command have been “continuously receiving reports from Congress workers, MLAs, leaders from Patiala and the media about your anti-party activities” from the last many days.

“This information and news has been coming ever since your husband Capt Amarinder Singh ji resigned from the party and floated his own party: Punjab Lok Congress. We are also made aware of your open announcements in the media about siding with your husband’s party,” said Choudhary in the letter addressed to Preneet, asking her to explain her stand on the issue.

Less than a fortnight ago, Preneet, along with Patiala’s mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu and councillors, had met Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi — the first after Capt Amarinder’s exit from the Congress, reportedly to discuss development issues reading Patiala, including expediting the Dairy Shifting Project.

The development also assumed significance as the show cause notice came a day before Capt Amarinder’s close aide — Patiala Mayor Sanjeev Sharma — is scheduled to prove his majority in the Municipal Corporation on Thursday.

The move came after councillors of over 40 wards, having the support of some top Congress leaders, submitted a no-confidence motion against the Mayor demanding to convene a meeting of the General House.

Before that, Choudhary and Cabinet Minister Brahm Mohindra held a meeting with these councillors. A parallel meeting was held at Preneet Kaur’s New Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala where over 18 councillors were reportedly present.

Notably, Patiala Mayor Bittu had announced open support for Capt Amarinder and his new party. Bittu, in a recent public gathering, also raised slogans of ‘Captain Zindabad’, following which the crowd too reciprocated and reposed their faith in Capt Amarinder.

After that, senior Congress leadership, including Choudhary, reached Patiala, amidst possibilities that Bittu would be removed from the post of Patiala Mayor. However, the party decided to wait.

RAGA’S AIDE, CONG’ NAWANSHAHR MLA’S WIFE JOINS BJP

The wife of Congress MLA from Nawanshahr and Congress national vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Aditi Singh on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Aditi Singh, ‘rebel’ Congress MLA from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, has gone against the party diktat on many occasions. Only recently, she had criticized the Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for opposing and questioning the controversial farm bills.