For clearing the political mess created by the list of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) office bearers, the Central leadership stepped in on Tuesday. It has constituted a four-member team for resolving the issues arising out of the list, which would submit its report within a month.
But, the move has come as a setback to the ‘rivals within’ as some of the Committee members were the known critics of the ‘other power centre’ Capt Amarinder Singh, the former Chief Minister. The committee was formed days after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi has sought a detailed report from some senior Congress leaders alarmed over the internal crisis in party’s Punjab unit.
Raising serious concerns over the ongoing rebellion within the party against Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, and discontentment among leaders over PPCC reconstitution, Sonia Gandhi has sought views from the party leaders on resolving the issue, and even expressed displeasure over the role of state party general secretary in-charge Shakeel Ahmad.
Finally intervening, Ahmad on Tuesday announced the formation of the committee under the chairmanship of party’s MP and special invitee of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) Mohinder Singh Kaypee. Besides, sitting MlA and former minister laal Singh, AICC secretary Kl Sharma, and the state Mahila Congress president Dr Malti Thapar has been selected as Committee members.
“The committee will look into the grievances which will be submitted to it and in consultation with the senior leaders of Punjab, will suggest the ways and means to address these issues within one month to the AICC,” stated the office note sent by Ahmad on Tuesday. It stated, “Soon after the announcement of the list of new office bearers and members of the executive committee of the PPCC, some voices of concern and discontent were raised in the media by different leaders of the party… To look into this matter and to address the grievances of Congress leaders of the state, AICC has constituted a four members committee.”
Refusing to comment on the formation of the committee, sitting MlA Jagmohan Singh Kang said that he would first meet the general secretary in-charge on Wednesday, and later with AICC chief and AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi. “I am, going to meet Shakeel Ahmed tomorrow. Then I’ll meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul… I have sought their time for meeting….in case, the Committee wants to listen our grievances, I will do that as it is the direction of the party high command,” Kang told The Pioneer, while refusing to comment on whether he was satisfied with committee members.
Kang was among the first few leaders to contradict the posts given to senior leaders after the reconstitution of the PPCC. After the former Union Minister and MP Ashwani Kumar, Kang, followed by Dr Malti Thapar, sitting MlA from Fatehgarh Churian Tripit Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Kapurthala MlA Rana Gurjit, former Ministers Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Santokh Chaudhary, Amarjit Singh Samra and many others opposed the newly-constituted body.
The leaders, creating a rift of sorts within the party, have been openly airing their discontentment over the PPCC, alleging Bajwa of adopting the ways of “nepotism”, “poor representation” and “betraying” those supported the party, despite having a jumbo-PPCC list. Already, Bajwa, and Ahmad have made it clear that they are open to “reconsideration” of the list. “We have said that we are ready to consider genuine demands of leaders. If there is a feeling that people who worked against the party have been accommodated and those who loyally served the party have been ignored, we are willing to look at those concerns. We are constantly monitoring the situation and will sort it out very soon,” said Ahmed.
“Party high command and Shakeel Ahmad himself is taking serious note of the state of affairs in the Punjab party unit. As of now, there is no plan of high command representative visiting the city to listen to their grievances. Ahmad is monitoring the situation thoroughly from Delhi,” said Punjab Congress secretary in-charge Harish Chaudhary.