Pressure mounted on the Congress leadership on Friday to set its Punjab house in order after former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met party president Sonia Gandhi and demanded the removal of Pradesh Congress Committee chief Pratap Singh Bajwa.
Capt. Singh’s open warning that the Congress would lose the next Assembly elections in the State comes close on the heels of another party leader Jagmeet Singh Brar leaving the organisation earlier this week.
In fact, there have been reports in a section of the local media that Capt. Singh could leave the party but this has been refuted by those close to him.
Meanwhile, reacting to his arch-rival’s broadside against him, Mr. Bajwa said Capt. Singh had no right to criticise his leadership after having led the party to defeats in two consecutive Assembly elections. Capt. Singh’s outburst against him was an attempt to “make a presence felt” after being on a long holiday abroad, he added.
Mr Bajwa said Capt Singh’s remarks were uncalled for. Reminding his rival’s earlier association with the Armed forces, Mr Bajwa stressed on the need for better discipline and unity when the party was on the ascendant against the ruling dispensation.
The PCC chief stated: “The Assembly elections are still two years away. The leadership issue would be decided by the party high command. Till then raking up controversies would only harm the party.’’
For the Congress, the factional war comes at a most inopportune time. Punjab is one State where the beleaguered party stands a chance at victory given the disenchantment with 10 years of SAD-BJP rule and changing equations within the ruling coalition.
Though the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Capt. Singh had stayed away from the entire session, leading to questions about his absence. The official reason was his mother’s illness but a party leader in Delhi indicated that the task of deputy leader could be reassigned to someone else if Capt. Singh does not attend the Budget Session.
The former CM warns of Congress losing next Assembly polls
