Punjab Chief Minister Capt AmarinderSingh on June 4 joined the meeting called by the Congress Panel to resolve theparty infighting.
CM’s meeting with the three-member panel lasted for around 3 hours in which significant issues were discussed.Reportedly, CM has talked extensively about his party leaders/ ministers andtabled their performance of the ongoing term.
CM has also presented theperformance card of the leaders who have formed mutiny against him. Accordingto the sources, Punjab CM took 45 minutes to brief his team to theCongress panel and have much appreciated the deeds of state Finance MinisterManpreet Badal, Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, and Education MinisterVijay Inder Singla.
In the meeting Capt Amarinder Singhalso defended his government’s four-year record and stressed upon the newpolicies including ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar Yojana’ to ensure the massive employabilityoptions for the unemployed youth. On the Bargari Sacrilege Case, CM said the probeis still underway and the law would take its course.
Besides this, sources suggest thatCM might have clarified his position to the panel over his alleged inaccessibilityand the “excessive control of the bureaucracy.” CM further emphasized thatunder his patronage, the party has not been alleged on the grounds of scams orcorruption activities in the ongoing term. Punjab Congress has shown "goodgovernance with zero tolerance" towards the nefarious activities.
However, sources believe that mostof the state issues that have been brought into limelight by the leaders were ‘procedural’and could be addressed through ‘deliberative processes.'
It has also been learned that PunjabCM has also presented his roadmap for the 2022 Assembly Elections. He assuredthe panel that the upcoming elections will be won by the Punjab Congress onlyas the party has handled the Covid-19 pandemic situation diligently; comparedto the other states, Punjab did not witness any scarcity of medical oxygen; the numberof deaths due to contagious infection had remained pretty low.
In his roadmap, CM consideredCongress’s age-old strategy of social engineering to attract certain votebanks. This time, Capt Amarinder Singh ponders upon using the Dalit card in theupcoming elections. Notably, in the opposition parties- BJP and SAD havealready played the Dalit card to win the previously held state elections.
CM further ensured the high-powered panel that he has no problem if his former colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu joinsthe party. Deliberations are there that Sidhu could be offered to lead thePunjab Pradesh Congress Committee, which is presently being run by Sunil Jakharand is reportedly not active at the booth level. Sidhu being elected as thechief of state unit might revive the party’s stature in Punjab and among partyleaders. With this Sidhu’s responsibility will increase ahead of elections ashe will have to abide by the social engineering methodology to give awaytickets to the party leaders.
Additionally, CM Capt considersbringing up either a Dalit PPCC Chief or Deputy Chief Minister and for the samehe has kept two names forward i.e. Amritsar MLA Raj Kumar Verka as Deputy CMand Education Minister as PPCC Chief.
He also added that if Sidhu is notkeen to handle huge responsibilities then he could be given charge of theElection Campaign Committee.
Capt Amarinder Singh has alreadykept his view to the panel and believes that the organizational revamp will beon the basis of the ‘Dalit’ card. However, on the flip side, the mutiny against CM does not contend with the names that their state head representative has given.
The rebellious leaders assert that Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has the potential either tolead the state at the second rank to CM i.e. Deputy CM or as PPCC Chief.
Moreover, the mutiny is resolute thatthe upcoming elections should not be contested under Capt Amarinder Singh’spatronage.
According to a senior Congressleader, “A possible formulation could be deputy chief ministership for Sidhu, along withkey portfolios. With the Punjab BJP’s house in disarray, the Congress may wantsome Hindu leaders on top posts. The AICC panel’s deliberations may end up inthe high command strongly messaging accommodation of all sections, includingthe Dalits. A comprehensive PCC reorganization and changes in the state Cabinetare plausible.”
Tobrief, three speculations— organizational restructure, re-joining of NavjotSidhu and Dalit Deputy CM or PPCC President, are on the table now for theCongress High Command to consider for the party’s glorious victory in 2022 Assembly Elections.
With its last meeting with PunjabCM, the Congress Panel is likely to submit its report to the High Command for areview and take a final call.
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