Elections over, Beri-Brar are DCC presidents again

JALANDHAR: Putting to rest all confusion about the presidentship of the District Congress Committee, in charge, Punjab Congress, Asha Kumari, today clarified that ever since the Punjab polls were over, Rajinder Beri and Jagbir Brar were back again as the DCC (urban) and DCC (rural) presidents, respectively.

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 20

Putting to rest all confusion about the presidentship of the District Congress Committee, in charge, Punjab Congress, Asha Kumari, today clarified that ever since the Punjab polls were over, Rajinder Beri and Jagbir Brar were back again as the DCC (urban) and DCC (rural) presidents, respectively.

The statement comes at a time when acting presidents of the DCC (urban) Daljit Singh Ahluwalia and DCC (rural) Capt Harminder Singh continue to stake claim on their posts. While Ahluwalia today organised a thanksgiving function for the party cadre at the party office, Capt Harminder Singh, who is yet to officially assume charge on coming Thursday, has been claiming, “Since an appointment to the post is made for three years, I assume that I will hold onto the post for at least as much period.”

However, Asha Kumari said, “Ahluwalia and Capt Harminder were only acting presidents till the time the polling happened, as both presidents were candidates for the Assembly polls and could not perform their duties as office bearers. Now that election is over, it is Beri and Brar who should be back in the saddle. I fail to understand why this confusion prevails.”

Beri was a candidate from the Jalandhar Central seat, while Brar contested from Nakodar.

The Punjab Congress in charge said, “Any appointment or removal from the post is to come from AICC president Sonia Gandhi as per our party’s constitution. Till the time she either removes a permanent president or makes any fresh appointment, there can be no change. The letters issued to Ahluwalia and Capt Harminder were only for an interim arrangement, the purpose for which is over now.”

Meanwhile, Daljit Ahluwalia, maintained, “I have been told by Capt Sandeep Sandhu, PPCC office in charge, that since my letter issued by Capt Amarinder Singh is ‘till further orders’, I can work till March 11 (day of counting) or till there are any further orders related to the presidentship. Going by his version, I am still a president.”

During the thanksgiving function organised by Ahluwalia, Jalandhar Cantonment candidate Pargat Singh and Jalandhar West candidate Sushil Rinku attended the function. Neither Beri nor Bawa Henry from Jalandhar North made it to the event.