Central leadership ‘ready’ with list

Balancing the caste equations and internal differences among the rival factions, the list of the new 29 district Congress presidents is expected any time.

Overcoming the challenges in balancing the caste equations and internal differences over the choice of the candidates between the rival groups, one led by the PPCC chief Amarinder Raja Warring and the other by former CM Chanarnjit Singh Channi, top party leaders have arrived at consensus over the choice of the candidates.

Senior party leader privy to the development said the list had been discussed with Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and was expected any time.

A senior party functionary, looking after the Punjab Congress affairs, said the list had nothing to do with the Taran Taran by-elections as the announcement had been running behind schedule.

Punjab’s list is expected along with that of Uttrakhand, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Earlier, the list was expected last week.

A section of the state party leaders wanted to delay the list till the elections to the Tarn Taran by-elections that are scheduled for November 11 to duck any potential dissidence in the party during campaign for the bypoll. They feel that announcing the name of the Tarn Taran district president could disturb the campaign as te two rival groups were pitching for two separate candidates. Meanwhile, there were differences over the choice of candidates in Ropar, Taran Taran, Feroxepur, Muktsar and Gurdaspur. It was unlikely that list could be announced in two parts.

“The list is ready and has been discussed with the top party leadership. While acting on the reports of the 29 observers to select the best candidate as district presidents, caste questions had been disturbed. Effort has been made to address the caste equations and address aspirations of different groups,” said a senior party leader privy to the development.