Punjab Congress assesses impact of Capt Amarinder's new party announcement

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 21

While Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat maintains Capt Amarinder Singh’s announcement on forming a new party will not be a threat to the Congress in Punjab, the party leadership has started doing ground assessment of a possible impact of the move.

Party has damaged own interests: ex-cm

• Captain has said Congress has damaged own interests by not trusting him and instead turning to ‘an unstable person like Sidhu who’s only loyal to himself’
• Party leaders admit the former CM may play spoilsport by poaching disgruntled leaders
• Sources say AICC observer Harish Chaudhary is taking feedback from MLAs and other sources on possible fallout of ex-CM’s pre-poll alliance with BJP

Facing anti-incumbency, despite replacing Captain Amarinder with Charanjit Singh Channi as the Chief Minister, party leaders admit the former CM may play spoilsport by poaching disgruntled leaders or those left out in ticket distribution. “Keeping the flock together is a daunting task for the leadership,” said a senior leader.

Sources privy to the discussion said AICC observer Harish Chaudhary, who has been camping in Chandigarh, has been taking feedback from party MLAs and other sources on the possible fallout of Captain Amarinder going for a pre-poll alliance with the BJP, in the event of a favourable solution to the farmers stir.

A feedback survey to assess the situation was also being tasked, it is learnt.

Rajya Sabha MP and former PCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo said despite changing the CM face, some of the tainted ministers were still part of the Cabinet. The mafia tag is still attached with the Congress government. “The surgical operation should have been for total revamp of the Cabinet”.

With Sidhu spelling out his 13-point agenda, besides seeking change of the Advocate General and strict action in the drug trafficking case, it will be a challenge for CM Channi to shed off the “fixed-match” narrative attached with the former CM.

“The party leadership is assessing the impact of the BJP giving a key role to Capt Amarinder in finding a solution to the farmers’ stir on the 2022 Assembly elections, especially in reserved and urban constituencies. It is being assumed Captain Amarinder could make a dent in the urban vote bank,” said a Congress MLA from Doaba.