Punjab poll under Captain Amarinder Singh, Harish Rawat sends out stern message to dissidents

Chandigarh, August 25

AICC general secretary Harish Rawat today said the 2022 Punjab elections will be fought under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh as the four ministers seeking the “ouster” of the CM met the Congress leader in Dehradun.

Rawat’s public statement is being seen as a jolt to the four ministers — Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi — and several MLAs who had yesterday sought the CM’s removal, saying he had failed to fulfil some key poll promises.

The four ministers accompanied by three MLAs met Rawat in Dehradun and sought the CM’s replacement, saying they had “lost faith in him”.

“Amid the tussle between the CM and Navjot Singh Sidhu camp, the outcome of the revolt raised by the rebels would be known by the line of action taken by party brass Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi after being briefed by Rawat. The tension between the two camps is far from over,” said a senior leader.

We Stand by our word: Rebels

We have been authorised by party MLAs to take up pending poll issues. If we are called to Delhi, we will go. —Ministers

After the meeting, ministers Channi and Randhawa said they stood by what they had stated yesterday. “Being disciplined party men, we have raised our grievances and issues with the in-charge of Punjab affairs who shares our concerns. We have been assured that our issues will be taken up with the party high command. We had been authorised by party MLAs to take up the pending poll issues. If we are called to Delhi, we will go,” said Channi.

Rawat categorically denied that the flare-up had anything to do with the PPCC president Sidhu. He said, “There is no threat to the party or government. There is no threat to our victory either. These leaders expressed their concerns and grievances. They said they were not against anyone. They want to go to the polls with a clear roadmap so that we win the 2022 Assembly elections.”

Rawat indicated that one of the major grievances of the rebel leaders was about the functioning of the state and district administrations. “If a Congress MLA considers himself insecure and thinks that administration is working against them then it is a matter of concern. I have earlier got similar complaints”.

Sources said a common complaint of many legislators was that they were being targeted through official machinery in their constituencies after they sided with the group that has been questioning the CM on delay in fulfilment of poll promises. — TNS

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