LS poll on mind, Congress brings Hindu faces to fore

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 20

While finalising the names of legislators for nine ministerial slots, the Congress high command has given in to various pressure groups within the party. This has been done keeping in mind the 2019 parliamentary elections.

No Dalit or OBC leader has been adjusted in the Cabinet expansion.

Eying the urban Hindu vote bank in Ludhiana, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, the party has brought in four Hindu faces – Vijay Inder Singla, hailing from the Aggarwal community, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sunder Sham Arora and OP Soni. With this, the party has covered the Malwa, Doaba and Majha areas.

The party has tried to strike a balance of age, religion and region. All nine being sworn-in have not been ministers earlier.

“A total of eight of 18 portfolios, including that of the CM, have gone to leaders from the Jat community. With just 18 per cent vote share, they have taken the majority share. This has annoyed the party leaders hailing from other communities,” said a senior Dalit leader.

To address the aspirations of the Dalit and OBC leaders, the party leadership is likely to appoint them at senior positions in the state unit or other political posts, it is learnt. The restructuring of the state unit is on the cards.

Ever since the Congress came to power, Dalit MLAs, while citing the 33 per cent vote share, have been pointing out “under-representation” in the Cabinet.

Gilzian quits PPCC

Irked over the denial of a Cabinet berth, three-time MLA from Urmur Sangat Singh Gilzian on Friday resigned as PPCC vice-president and member of the AICC. In his resignation sent to Jakhar, Gilzian said due representation had not been given to the OBC leaders. Randeep Sigh Nabha, Amloh MLA, said seniority should have been maintained.

Gurdaspur tops with three berths

Gurdaspur: With Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa’s name approved for a Cabinet berth, the border district now has three ministers. Dinanagar MLA and Education Minister Aruna Chaudhury, who was holding the rank of Minister of State (independent charge), has been elevated to the Cabinet rank. Fatehgarh Churian MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa is already a Cabinet minister. The district has seven Assembly seats, of which six are held by the Congress. The Gurdaspur parliamentary seat is represented by PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar. Recently, senior Congress leader Raman Bahl had been appointed chairman of the Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board. — Ravi Dhaliwal

Doaba ‘under-represented’

Jalandhar: Sunder Sham Arora is the lone MLA from Doaba who has made it to the Cabinet. The region had gone unrepresented after Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh stepped down as Power and Irrigation Minister early this year over the mine auction controversy. Hockey Olympian and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh’s hopes of becoming the Sports Minister have been dashed. Fifteen of the 23 seats in Doaba are held by the ruling Congress.  — Deepkamal Kaur

New entrants in state cabinet

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
Dera Baba Nanak

After the 2012 poll loss, he stood with Capt Amarinder when the latter was under fire. He played key role in Sunil Jakhar’s victory in the Gurdaspur bypoll. He is in the forefront of a campaign against Bikram Majithia on drug charges. He has been critical of Cong for going slow against ‘erring’ Akalis.

Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria 
Raja Sansi

A loyalist of Capt Amarinder, the Jat Sikh leader was the frontrunner for the post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary to the CM. A part of the Majha brigade, Sarkaria became close to the CM when the latter fought parliamentary elections from Amritsar in 2014 and defeated Arun Jaitley.

Vijay Inder Singla 
Sangrur

Former MP and son of Congress stalwart Sant Ram Singla, Vijay Inder has worked his way up through the Youth Congress. He is a confidant of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He hails from the Aggarwal community and also enjoys the support of Capt Amarinder Singh.

Bharat Bhushan Ashu 
Ludhiana West

Two-time MLA and former deputy leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Ashu enjoys the support of Congress president. He is also a confidant of Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu, who has say in the AICC. He is said to have considerable vote bank among urban Hindus.

Sunder Sham Arora 
Hoshiarpur

Two-time MLA from Hoshiarpur, Arora is a staunch supporter of Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni. Through his elevation, the party high command has tried to address Soni’s grievances. In the last Assembly elections, Arora had defeated BJP’s Tikshan Sud with a huge margin.

OP Soni 
Amritsar Central

Considered close to Capt Amarinder, Soni has the distinction of being an elected member of the state Assembly for five times. He enjoys support of most leaders close to the CM. Soni was elected Amritsar’s first Mayor in 1991. He had defeated BJP’s Tarun Chugh in last Assembly polls. 

Rana Gurmit Sodhi 
Guruharsahai

The four-time MLA is a blue-eyed boy of Capt Amarinder. Known as a key member of the ‘kitchen cabinet’ of the CM, his name had also cropped up in the list of ministers when the Congress took over last year. Sodhi has been inducted into the Cabinet despite opposition from Jakhar.

Gurpreet Kangar 
Rampura Phul

Known for taking on the Akalis, Kangar has the backing of Punjab Congress president Jakhar. The PPCC chief has been instrumental in bringing him on board. In the last Assembly polls, he had defeated senior SAD leader and former minister Sikander Singh Maluka.

Balbir Singh Sidhu 
Mohali

Three-time legislator, Sidhu enjoys support of Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni. Punjab affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary has been instrumental in his induction into the state Cabinet. Sidhu is known as people’s leader for his work at grass-roots level and for his being approachable.