Post CM diktat, warring leaders bury the hatchet

Ropar, April 25

The carrot-and-stick policy of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to rein in factionalism in the party has started showing results, at least in Ropar district.

Speaker Rana KP Singh, who represents the Anandpur Sahib segment, and district Congress Committee president Brinder Singh Dhillon held a press conference at Congress Bhawan here today. Three former district presidents — Sukhvinder Singh Whiskey, Amarjit Singh Saini and Vijay Kumar Tinku — were also present.

Both KP Singh and Dhillon have been at loggerheads since the latter was fielded as party candidate from the Ropar constituency in 2017. They have been holding separate roadshows and public meetings since party candidate from Anandpur Sahib constituency Manish Tewari started his campaign on April 15.

Following reports of differences among party leaders, the CM yesterday warned ministers that they could lose Cabinet berths and MLAs might be denied the party ticket for the next Assembly polls, if they fail to ensure party’s victory in all 13 constituencies. Earlier on April 17, to counter any adverse impact of “infighting” on the Congress’ poll prospects, the Chief Minister had asked MLAs and district unit heads that they would be responsible for mobilising support in favour of official party candidate in their respective parliamentary constituencies.

During the conference, both leaders came together in favour of the party candidate after the diktat issued by the CM in this regard. — TNS