Congress tasks Ambika Soni with bridging divide in faction-ridden Punjab unit

The Congress high command has entrusted Ambika Soni with the responsibility of ironing out differences among party leaders in the state.

The move comes amid reports of growing rift among Punjab Congress leaders in recent months.

Earlier, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal had chaired a meeting of the political affairs committee of the Punjab Congress, asking state party chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring to take other senior leaders like former CM Charanjit Channi and others on board while organising party events.

To bring synergy among the top state leaders, the party would be constituting the coordination committee, disciplinary committee and another committee to decide upon the candidates who want to re-join the party or want to come from other parties.

Sources in the party said the formation of the committees was part of the restructuring of the state unit. Already, senior Congress leaders, including MPs, former state unit presidents and former Union Ministers, are among the panel of 29 observers appointed by the AICC for the selection of 29 District Congress Committee presidents in the state.

The observers have been tasked to keep various factors like OBC, caste, minorities and other regional factors in mind while shortlisting a panel of 3-4 candidates for each district.

After reaching out to Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh on the sidelines of the a Samvidhan Bachao rally at Jalandhar yesterday, the PPCC chief is expected to visit the residence of Channi.

Other leaders like former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, MLAs Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Sukhbinder Sarkaria and Sukhpal Khaira also raised issues on similar lines.

The recent war of words between Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh and former Zira MLA Kulbir Zira has not gone down well with the party high command.

It is learnt that the general secretary incharge Punjab affairs Bhupesh Baghel would be holding meeting with senior party leaders to iron out the differences among state leaders.