Former Union Minister Preneet Kaur’s oath taking ceremony as Patiala’s newly-elected MlA on Monday turned virtually out to be a show of strength for her husband and senior Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh.

Almost three-fourth of Congress MlAs, besides Capt Amarinder loyalists, attended Preneet’s swearing-in which Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa was not invited.

He, in turn, called for a meeting of the PPCC office bearers almost at the same time which was attended by less than 10 legislators — indicating that Capt Amarinder was firmly placed in the saddle, though the party reins are in Bajwa’s hands.

legislators who attended PPCC meet, started at 4 pm, include Brahm Mohindra, Randeep Singh Nabha, Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, among others, while Bajwa also invited Punjab Congress’ national secretary in-charge Harish Chaudhary.

Preneet was administered oath as member of the House by the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal in the Assembly complex at 3.30 pm.

The presence of more than 30 Congress MlAs, out of the total strength of 44, at Preneet’s swearing-in speaks volume about the standing Capt Amarinder still hold within the party, sending across the clear message

about who is the actual

power centre.

In the Congress’ legislative Party (ClP) meeting, held recently, the murmurs of dissident against Bajwa, and demand of his ouster as PPCC chief was heard loud and clear.

Most of the MlAs demanded that Bajwa be removed from the party’s apex post. It has also been learnt that some of the legislators have even take up the matter with the Congress national president Sonia Gandhi in the matter.

The battle for supremacy between two power centres within the State party unit — Bajwa and his predecessor Capt Amarinder — has been going on since long.

The equations changed after the Congress’ tally in Punjab tumbled down from eight during 2009 polls to just three in 2014 general elections under Bajwa’s leadership while BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley’s defeat by Capt Amarinder acted as a little comfort for

the party.

Amritsar win gave a fillip to Capt Amarinder’s status within the party, fortifying his support base, that has witnessed a downfall ever since he was replaced by former Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa. The clamour to oust Bajwa also gained momentum following party’s pitiable

performance during lok Sabha elections.

What adds to Bajwa’s embarrassment, he was not even invited for lunch, thrown by ClP leader Sunil Jakhar for Preneet Kaur and “just the MlAs,” just before her oath-taking ceremony.

On asking Capt Amarinder about not inviting Bajwa, he said: “he is not an MlA, not even my close friend, and not my supporter... why should he be invited for Preneet’s oath ceremony.”

He said: “Two invites were sent for the ceremony, one was sent by Jakhar to the MlAs and other was from my side to the family and friends.”