It’s been over six months now, the woes in the Punjab Congress seem to be far from over. Earlier it was Captain Vs Sidhu, which triggered a political storm in Punjab; however, it has now become a daily routine of Congress workers to launch scathing attacks on its own colleagues.
Even though Congress top leadership had attempted to retain Punjab in the next Assembly elections in early 2022, and announced the appointment of Dalit leader Charanjit Singh Channi as Chief Minister by showing exit door to Amarinder Singh, the infighting in Punjab Congress still continues.
With no progress made on Punjab’s Core issues, the Congress-led-state government is busy cleaning up the mess within the party.
The people of Punjab had a sigh of relief after Channi took over as CM thinking Captain Vs Sidhu has come to end, and the government will focus on development. But little we know, it was the start of another crisis in Punjab.
Political experts say, “Congress downfall has begun in Punjab as it miserably failed to deliver its pre-poll promises. However, they could have managed to save the image, if Captain and Sidhu had sorted their agendas in person and restricted themselves from opening a revolt against each other in public”.
Not just this, after Captain Amarinder was removed, it was Channi Vs Sidhu, which made the headlines. With disagreements over appointment of DGP, AG and some tainted leaders in Cabinet, Sidhu a few weeks back opened a revolt against Channi and even resigned from his post as PPCC President.
Though after meetings with Congress top leadership and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, Sidhu took back his decision of resigning, however, his differences with Channi and Randhawa still persists.
Besides, the recent Aroosa Alam controversy has further deepened the Congress image in the state. Deputy CM Randhawa by launching a personal attack on Capt Amarinder over his connections with Pakistani Journalist, started another public spat between congress leaders. In reply to Randhawa, Capt Amarinder then shared Aroosa and Sonia Gandhi's picture, asking Randhawa to probe INC president connections with Aroosa too.
However, Randhawa has now deleted his tweets seeking probe into Aroosa's visits to India but the tweets of the two leaders had given opposition a chance to defame Congress over his dirty politics.
Why downfall?
The Congress has failed to act on its 18-point agenda which includes deliberations over power pacts with private thermal plants, 200 units of free power for everyone, exposing the transport mafia in the state, stringent action against those involved in drug trade, STF report on drugs, acting against sand mafia, de-controlling sand mining, action in sacrilege, police firing cases, correcting perception of ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar’ scheme and implementing 85th amendment to extend quota benefit to SC/weaker section in promotions, addressing staff concerns in implementation of 6th pay commission and among other issues.
"These agendas were the core issues of Punjab, and Congress when came to power, promised to implement these within one year of forming the government. But it's been over four and a half years and nothing concrete has been done so far", said an opposition leader while blaming top Congress leaders for their own and party's downfall in Punjab.