Congress likely to get new state affairs in charge

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 1

As Punjab Congress leaders and a three-member panel appointed by party president Sonia Gandhi hold parleys to resolve infighting, the party’s organisational setup in the state is likely to see a change of guard with Harish Rawat making way for a new Punjab affairs in charge.

AICC general secretary Rawat, who is a former Uttarakhand CM, is keen on focussing on the Assembly elections in his state, scheduled around the time when Punjab goes to the polls early next year. Sources say he is likely to be the party’s CM face in Uttarakhand.

Rawat’s appointment as Congress’ state affairs in charge in place of Asha Kumari in September last year was seen as a big boost for the anti-Capt Amarinder camp. A Congress veteran, Rawat was tasked with bringing all factions together, especially bridging the rift between the Chief Minister and his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The new party affairs in charge is likely to be someone already conversant with the dynamics of Punjab politics, who could strike a balance between different factions.

Rajasthan revenue minister Harish Chaudhary, a former secretary, Punjab affairs in charge, during the 2017 Assembly elections, is among the names doing the rounds for the post.

Party sources say amid infighting over delay in arrest of those involved in sacrilege cases and justice to families of police firing cases, former party president Rahul Gandhi is personally intervening after some of the ministers and MLA approached him through different channels.

“Reacting to the distress calls by state leaders, Chaudhary’s services were used by Gandhi to take feedback from ministers and MLAs,” said a minister privy to the development. Some leaders camping in Delhi are learnt to have again talked to Gandhi.

Based on the feedback being given by Punjab leaders to the panel, a large churning in the Punjab Congress and government was expected as most of the leaders had said it was not a Captain Amarinder versus Navjot Singh battle, but an issue-based fight for the survival of the party.