Congress MLAs summoned to New Delhi to discuss PPCC issue

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, January 30

All 43 Congress MLAs of Punjab have been summoned by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to his residence on February 2 to discuss party affairs, particularly the future of PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa.

Sources in the AICC claim that the party high command is rattled by the “sheer strength” of Capt Amarinder Singh’s anti-drug rally at Amritsar on January 24. Thirtyfour MLAs, including some who were earlier with the Bajwa camp, attended the rally.

The AICC secretary and Punjab affairs in charge, Harish Chowdhury, has been ringing up the MLAs, asking them to be present at the AICC vice-president’s residence on February 2 at 5 pm. Sources say Rahul will meet the legislators in groups of five or six each. Some important leaders will be granted audience with him thereafter.

Some legislators such as Youth Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who represents the Gidderbaha segment, are already in New Delhi. Warring, five-time MLA Brahm Mohindra, who has been AICC member for the past 14 years, and Kuljit Singh Nagra, AICC secretary, are likely to remain neutral. However, an overwhelming majority of MLAs may speak out against Bajwa.

“Instead of uniting the party, Bajwa has created groups within the party to suit his interests. In his home constituency of Gurdaspur, he is finding it hard to quell dissent. Of the five MLAs in Gurdaspur district, four are against him,” claimed a sitting legislator.

The fifth legislator is Bajwa’s wife Charanjit Kaur. She represents the Qadian seat. Bajwa could not be reached for comment.