Voices for Punjab Congress revamp grow louder

New Delhi, June 3

Voices for the revamp of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) have been growing louder as the AICC panel formed to resolve state’s affairs winds up its meetings over the weekend.

The panel today met around 35 leaders who had contested the 2017 state elections and lost, apart from some prominent and upcoming leaders.

Sources privy to discussions said a lot of MLAs, a section of sitting MPs and other stakeholders urged the Congress panel to suggest a revamp of the state unit with a probable overhaul at the very top. “In the event of inaccessibility of the Chief Minister, the PPCC should serve as a link between the party and the cadre. But that is not happening. An overhaul is required… The demands for revamp, however, have been overshadowed by the ongoing spat between CM Capt Amarinder Singh and his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Sidhu,” said sources.

PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar has had to contend with a dysfunctional state unit on account of issues related to Navjot Sidhu, who has been eyeing the post himself and wants a fair share for his loyalists in the revamped organisation, something the CM has not allowed.

The Congress may not like to repeat the Haryana and Kerala examples (it went into elections in both these states without a PPCC unit and lost) in Punjab and may quickly want to constitute the state unit, a major discussion point when the CM meets the AICC committee tomorrow after arriving in Delhi today. — TNS