Won’t be a one-man show: Amarinder

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 27

Upbeat over his appointment as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Capt Amarinder Singh today said he would not be a “one-man show” in the state and would ensure that personality cult did not stand in the way of party unity.

In an interview to The Tribune, Capt said he would take all state leaders along and would “not work like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who believes in personality cult”.

“A one-man show is not possible. And I won’t be the one. I am not PM Modi who does not take his Foreign Minister along for an important external affairs policy meeting, nor am I Arvind Kejriwal. I will not further personality cult at the expense of party democracy and unity,” Capt Amarinder said, while answering a question about apprehensions regarding his dominance in the Punjab unit and his working style.

On ticket distribution for the 2017 elections though, Capt drew a solid line saying tickets would be distributed on the sole consideration of “winnability”. “Winnability is a critical criterion. Personal friendships should not matter in ticket finalisation,” he said.

Asked about who the Congress considered its principal rival in Punjab, Capt said, “I am a soldier and soldiers don’t underestimate any enemy force. Both the Akali-BJP combine and AAP are our rivals, though we have an edge over both — given the anti-incumbency factor against the ruling combine and disenchantment with AAP.”

On queries about factionalism and the future role of outgoing state unit president Partap Bajwa, Capt said there was no factionalism. “The issue of Bajwa’s replacement was a larger issue for party’s interest. It was not my personal issue. Everyone wanted that. Partap Bajwa can have a role at the AICC level and I am sure he will have one.”

About his perceived troubled equation with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who backed Bajwa for over a year before blinking in Capt’s favour, Capt said, “My equation with Rahul is 101 per cent strong. What I said about him in the past was in good faith. I said that if he has to be PM tomorrow, he must travel far and wide. And he is doing that.”

On Rahul’s elevation and Priyanka’s role in the Congress, Capt said, “Rahul should be elevated in party hierarchy and that will happen when the next Congress working Committee meets. I personally want to see Priyanka also in the party, though this is for the leadership to decide.”

Admitting that the 2017 state elections will be a very high-stake election for him and also for the Congress that is battling for electoral survival, Capt said, “Last time, we got 41 per cent votes and the Akalis got 33 per cent. Akalis formed the government with the BJP’s support. This time, the equation has changed in our favour.” The Congress had lost the last two state elections with Capt at the helm.

On Bajwa

“The issue of Bajwa’s replacement was a larger issue for party’s interest. It was not my personal issue. Everyone wanted that.”

On who he considers threat

“I am a soldier and soldiers don’t underestimate any enemy force. Both the Akali-BJP combine and AAP are our rivals, though we have an edge over both”

On ticket distribution

 “Winnability is a critical criterion. Personal friendships should not matter in ticket finalisation”