Jakhar’s comeback

THE Congress high command has done rather well in naming Sunil Jakhar as head of the Punjab Congress, as Capt Amarinder Singh, on becoming Chief Minister, could not possibly continue to don the party hat as well. Jakhar, a three-term MLA, had lost from Abohar in the last Assembly elections, and the Cabinet that formed was thus deprived of a serious talent. Jakhar made a competent leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the last assembly and worked companionably with Capt Amarinder Singh once he took over as Punjab Congress chief. The party high command had, obviously, no problem in accepting the Chief Minister’s proposal that Jakhar take over the organisation’s burden. 

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Jakhar is the right man for the job. Being a Hindu, he helps the party reburnish its secular credentials. An educated, approachable, veteran politician he may well be, but Jakhar faces some tough challenges. Although the party won handsomely in the elections, its organisational health is far from robust. Being in the wilderness for a decade, followed by an abrupt reversal of fortunes, makes it difficult to summon the discipline and diligence to tone up for the next challenge: the 2019 parliamentary elections. 

Jakhar had made a positive impact on both sides of the aisle as the Leader of the Opposition earlier. As state Congress chief, he can help the Chief Minister rein in MLAs and other functionaries, whose muscle-flexing has led to a spate of violent incidents in the past few weeks; even ministers have overstepped their brief. Apart from what Jakhar does, his very appointment has sent a clear message down the party chain in the state that it is Capt Amarinder Singh who shall have the last word on all party matters. His success will be critically dependent on his ability to resist the ancient rites of factionalism as also his willingness to hammer out a working relationship with the Chief Minister. If the Congress manages to give Punjab a modicum of coherent and purposeful governance, the impact will be felt beyond Punjab. Jakhar’s task is cut out for him.