Why can’t Amarinder run for another term: Manpreet

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today endorsed Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s wish to re-run for office.

“If Parkash Singh Badal can lead a party (SAD) at the age of 89, why can’t Capt Amarinder run for another term?” Manpreet said after the Cabinet meeting here.

He stated that the uncertainty over “succession” had been laid to rest by the CM’s statement, while describing Capt Amarinder as the “anchor and winning horse” of the Congress.

Meanwhile, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu skipped the Cabinet meeting. He remained incommunicado throughout the day, fuelling speculation that his absence was linked to the CM’s willingness to play a longer political innings.

During the meeting, Health Minister Brahm Mohindra also came out in support of the Chief Minister. He was seconded by Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot.

Targeting Rajya Sabha MP and former PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa, Rural Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa advised him to settle his personal issues with Capt Amarinder.

Tripat Bajwa was joined by Ferozepur MLA Parminder Singh Pinki, who has written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi that Partap Bajwa should tender his resignation to the Rajya Sabha chairman instead of playing a political game by sending it to the party vice-president (Rahul Gandhi).

“If the PPCC president can attend the all-party meeting (of MPs), Partap Bajwa should also have been present in the interests of the state,” Pinki has stated in his letter.

Despite repeated attempts, Partap Bajwa did not respond to calls.