Another setback for Capt

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 17

Close on the heels of resignation by Cabinet Minister Rana Gurjit Singh, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh suffered another blow with the Punjab and Haryana High Court striking down the appointment of his confidant Suresh Kumar.

Over the past 10 months, Kumar has been running the affairs of the government, making himself indispensable for the CM. His departure from the CMO is bound to create several power centres within the government, which remained subdued because of his “statecraft”. At the helm of affairs, he was not just doing the balancing act between the CM and his ministers and MLAs, but also between the bureaucracy and the ruling political class.

An upright officer, Kumar had been given a free hand by the CM in running the affairs of the state. He was the “go-to” person for all ministers, MLAs and even the bureaucrats, for all political and administrative matters.

That the court decision against his appointment comes a day after resignation by Amarinder’s close confidant Rana Gurjit Singh has created ripples in the government. Many believe that Kumar is a victim of political strife within the CMO, with his rivals and those accused of involvement in the irrigation scam orchestrating the filing of the plea against his appointment.

Kumar told The Tribune that he was unwilling to continue in the government. “I had resigned almost two months ago, and have relinquished the charge now,” he said. Kumar, who has proceeded on a personal trip to Japan, said he had neither filed a reply in the case in his personal capacity nor was he inclined to file an appeal against the order. “The case was contested by the Punjab Government and it is their decision if they want to file an appeal,” he said.

In his letter to the CM, Kumar said: “In keeping with my note of August 2, and subsequent resignation of November 6, I hereby relinquish the charge.”