Congress out to placate sulking Punjab leaders

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 6

After prevailing upon former Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend Rahul Gandhi’s tractor rally in Moga, AICC general secretary and Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat mollified yet another party leader, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, by making him not only share the stage with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, but also address a rally at Patiala.

Raninder, Brahm call on Rahul

Rahul Gandhi held one-on-one meeting with Raninder Singh, son of CM Capt Amarinder Singh. Party insiders say the CM’s family was keen that Raninder carries forward the political legacy. Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra also met the Congress leader.

To ensure state party leaders put up a united front, the party high command had sent out a message to sulking Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo to be present at the Patiala rally.

Rawat had on Sunday made Sidhu, who had quit the Captain Cabinet over reported differences, share the stage and address the opening rally in Moga. Party leaders admitted there had been demand from public and party leaders to listen to Sidhu. He, however, stayed away from the party programme over the next two days.

“Though the Captain camp was not comfortable with the presence of Sidhu and Bajwa at the rallies, he was taken into confidence before making the leaders share stage with him. They were, however, seated away from the CM,” said a senior leader. Sources said the party leaders, by bringing Sidhu and Bajwa on stage with the CM, were testing the waters ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections.

Gandhi’s Punjab visit and response to party’s agitation against the agriculture laws have only strengthened Chief Minister’s position. By keeping PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar along, the CM has sent out a clear message to the party high command and his bête noires that he enjoys full support of his team.

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