Course correction by Congress party in Punjab

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

By appointing AICC general secretary for Rajasthan Ajay Maken as chairperson of the screening committee with former Youth Congress chief Chandan Yadav and Congress joint secretary Krishna Allavaru as members, the party high command has tried to placate traditional Congress men.

Old-timers felt ignored after the elevation of Navjot Sidhu as PPCC chief and Charanjit Channi as CM, whom they viewed as ‘new entrants.’Channi joined the Congress in 2012 and Sidhu in 2017 ahead of elections.

Two former PPCC chiefs, Sunil Jakhar and Partap Bajwa are on the campaign panel and manifesto panel, respectively. Also on the screening panel, they will have a say in picking candidates. With Jakhar repeatedly hitting out at Channi and Sidhu, it was pointed out to the high command that the old-timers felt ignored during the crisis that led to Capt Amarinder Singh’s ouster as CM. Ajay Maken was on the panel that removed Captain. Ever since Rahul Gandhi aides Harish Chaudhary, Punjab affairs in-charge and IYC secretary in-charge Krishna Allavaru were tasked with streamlining the functioning of the Punjab Congress amid the Sidhu-Channi row, efforts were on to mollify Jakhar. “Fearing a face-off between the PPCC chief and CM regarding the selection of candidates, the party high command has included Jakhar on the screening committee as ex officio member and Chaudhary and Allavaru have been handling Punjab affairs long enough to be part of the screening committee,” explained a senior leader.