MP Bajwa questions Capt diktat to MLAs

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 24

Former Punjab Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa today fired a salvo at Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, questioning why MLAs should be held responsible for accomplishing ‘Mission 13’ and not the state leadership.

The CM had earlier in the day reportedly warned ministers they could lose Cabinet berths and the MLAs may be denied the party ticket for the next Assembly polls, if they did not ensure the party’s victory in all 13 constituencies. Bajwa tweeted: “I welcome the high command’s decision to make the elected representatives responsible for ‘Mission 13’, but it is the state leadership that must be held accountable. One must lead by example, and if not, then let others grace the podium.” He stopped short of naming the CM and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar. 

Leaders close to the state leadership claimed the party diktat was applicable to Bajwa too.

“Performance in the Lok Sabha elections and not seniority will be the criterion for their inclusion on boards and corporations,” the CM was quoted as having told his legislators. The instructions, issued after Capt Amarinder accompanied party nominees from Jalandhar, Sangrur and Faridkot for filing nomination, comes amid reports of “infighting” in Anandpur Sahib, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Faridkot, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. 

Party’s Punjab affairs incharge Asha Kumari is learnt to have faced angry workers when she visited the residence of former Union Minister Santosh Chaudhary to request her to accompany Hoshiarpur nominee Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal for filing papers. Chaudhary finally obliged.

In Ferozpepur, state minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi and others who were in the ticket race have yet to come out in support of party nominee Sher Singh Ghubaya wholeheartedly. Ghubaya is reported  to have called on Sodhi at his residence to break the ice. In Gurdaspur, local leaders owing allegiance to Bajwa are reportedly reluctant to campaign for Jakhar.

Given the party’s stakes in Bathinda, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur,  the CM has decided to accompany nominees Raja Warring, Ghubaya and Jakhar during the filing of nominations.