“93% poll promises implemented,” says Punjab CM in an indirect response to PPCC chief Navjot Sidhu
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturdaycategorically said that his government and party leadership would work unitedlytowards steering Congress to victory in the ensuing assembly elections.
While interacting with the media persons after dedicatingShaheed Udham Singh Memorial to people here during a state-level function on82nd martyrdom of great revolutionary, the Chief Minister said that right nowthe party position is good and the same has to be further consolidated tillelections.
On the issue of organizing roadshows to run-up to theforthcoming assembly elections, the Chief Minister said there were no suchplans so far amid Covid-19, which is at present under control. He, however,said that he will act according to the advice of medical experts on this count.
Replying to another question about two power centers inthe Congress party, the Chief Minister said that there was nothing unusual asNavjot Singh Sidhu in the capacity of PPCC President and he as Chief Ministerare performing two different sets of responsibilities. Captain Amarinder Singhsaid that he also remained PPCC President thrice and knew well about the dutiesof the party President. Moreover, the Government and the Party are twodifferent entities having defined roles.
Asked to comment on Sidhu’s not mentioning either his(CM), Rahul or Priyanka’s name in his address on installation ceremony as PPCCPresident, Captain Amarinder Singh said that it is hardly any issue and doesn'taffect him at all.
Answering another query about Sidhu’s frequentmeetings with party leaders and MLAs, the Chief Minister said that it’s theduty of party President to strengthen the organizational structure which couldonly be possible by keeping close liaison with the rank and file of the party.He said that the party and Government should work as a team since the assemblyelections are just six months away. He pointed out that the government would endeavor to live up to the aspirations of the people while the party President is duty-bound to push the party forward in the political field.
Asked to spell out the roadmap for the upcoming assemblypolls, Captain Amarinder Singh said that his government had already fulfilled93% of poll promises made in the election manifesto and would soon go up to95%. He also mentioned that prior to his government, Chandra Babu Naidu’sgovernment in Andhra Pradesh had previously made a record by accomplishing 83%of poll promises. He said that 5% of the remaining promises are left only dueto the GST regime because when their party drafted the manifesto there was systemof VAT, not the prevailing GST.
On the issue of 18 point agenda given by KhargeCommittee, the Chief Minister said that there was some confusion in this regardas his government had already implemented several points of this agenda and theremaining others would be accomplished soon. The Chief Minister said that hehad already apprised both Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Kharge on this issue in theirmeeting.
Ruling out any possibility of an immediate Cabinetreshuffle, Captain Amarinder Singh however said that he would surely discussthis issue with party high command during his visit to Delhi.