Wider consensus on Jakhar being made PPCC president

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 2

The withholding of the name for the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president has come as a surprise to all.

A section of Congress men attribute the delay to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. It is believed that he expressed his displeasure to the party high command at not being taken into confidence on Laal Singh’s name.

But the development has come as a shot in the arm for the beleaguered PPCC chief, Partap Bajwa. The latter today rushed to Delhi to put across his point of view. “I will request the high command that an unbiased person alone be handed over the party reins in Punjab. I have not been consulted on the issue so far,” he told The Tribune.

There is speculation that the Amarinder Singh Camp would want the PPCC chief’s post be given to either the former Chief Minister’s wife and Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur or to Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar. There is wider consensus on Jakhar being made PPCC chief and the job of CLP Leader being given to Laal Singh.

Sources say Amarinder Singh does not want to be seen as opposing any name suggested by the party high command and in case Laal Singh is chosen as PPCC chief, he wants to be given the charge of acting PPCC president. Capt Amarinder wants to be made in charge for running the party campaign in Punjab and the task of rebuilding the organisation be given to one of his aides.

The party high command in Delhi does not want to be seen as bowing to pressure by any lobby. At the same time, it is well aware that Amarinder Singh enjoys the support of a majority of the 44 sitting MLAs and 50 former MLAs and ministers.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said when consulted, she had told the high command that Laal Singh would be acceptable as PPCC chief to a majority of Congress men.