NEW DELHI: Congress is again mulling the idea of appointing a Hindu state president in Punjab amid a push from dissidents for a compromise to end the turmoil in the state unit.Well-placed sources said the deadlock in the dissidence-ridden organisation has cast a cloud over the upcoming election campaign, and the party brass is cut up about the unsuccessful fire-fighting efforts of key managers.A group of dissidents that includes senior netas like Charanjit Channi and Sukhjinder Randhawa has been seeking the replacement of state chief Amarinder Raja Warring ever since the AICC announced a clutch of poll-related panels while sticking with Warring at the helm two months ago.Now, sources said, the dissidents themselves have proposed that a Hindu Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief be appointed. This group has also conveyed that they will be on board with such a replacement, even though each one of them has been fancying their chances till now, they added.With the state chief and the leader of opposition both belonging to the Jatt Sikh community, the idea of a Hindu PCC chief is meant to bring balance to the organisational set-up.This was the original idea before the AICC decided to retain Warring at the top.An insider said the party is looking at its options and may have to make some change in the leadership position — either the Punjab chief or AICC in-charge, or both. While it is too close to the elections for such an organisational overhaul, the sources said the crisis has to be defused.Sources also dismissed the notion that Rahul Gandhi will soon kickstart the state campaign in the form of a bus journey, arguing that the bus would bring all the squabbling netas together and, thereby, enforce peace.A party manager said Rahul will only start the bus journey after the organisational bickering is over.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
“The campaign will be about the state and state Congress. It needs an agenda so that the party can set a narrative for voters,” he said. “The state netas will have to come together and draw up a plan for winning the election together. Only then will Rahul get into it,” the party functionary said.Also, Rahul will be a part of the bus campaign for 2-3 days, and state netas will steer the rest of it for around 20 days. While Congress was hopeful of its chances in the AAP-governed state, persistent infighting in the local unit has raised concerns about its prospects.Inputs that forces like jailed MP Amritpal Singh’s “Waaris Punjab De” may be gaining ground have further alarmed some strategists.
