Navjot Sidhu objects to CM Channi's hoardings

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15 

Difference of opinion among the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) top brass on the campaign strategy for the 2022 Assembly elections came to the fore in the first meeting of the campaign committee chaired by former PCC president Sunil Jakhar here today.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary, PCC general secretary (organisation) Pargat Singh and poll screening committee member Krishna Allavaru.

Sunil Jakhar also held a separate meeting with Sidhu. Jakhar, who has twice refused to meet CM Channi at his residence, is said to be upset over his name being floated as the CM face before Channi was appointed to the post.

Palpable differences between CM Channi and Sidhu were visible in the meeting. The PCC chief took a dig at CM Channi over hoardings and posters across the state eulogising him. The issue was raised after the campaign committee chairman sought to know whether it would be a personality-based or ideology-based or performance-based campaign, whether the party would bank on the three-month performance of the CM Channi-led government or question the performance of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh.

After the Chaudhary stressed the election would be fought collectively with CM Channi as the Dalit face, Sidhu as Jat face and Jakhar as the Hindu face, the PCC chief pointed out scores of hoardings and posters with CM Channi put up on roadsides.

Sidhu is also learnt to have also pointed out that instead of party workers, relatives of ministers and MLAs were being appointed in boards and corporations. Harish Choudhary and Krishna Allavaru have been working at the backend to iron the differences among the top leaders. A 21-member campaign committee would be announced in the coming days. It was also stressed the election would be fought on the party’s ideology to keep leaders under control.

PCC chief says workers ignored

During the meeting, Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu is learnt to have pointed out that instead of party workers, relatives of ministers and MLAs were being appointed in boards and corporations.

...Meets DCC presidents

Sidhu on Wednesday called upon newly-appointed DCC presidents to appoint their office-bearers in a week and start the enrolment drive in their respective districts.