Brar's homecoming may put Punjab Congress in trouble

The politics within Punjab Congress on Friday turned more complicated with the re-induction of veteran leader Jagmeet Singh Brar in the party.Charged suspension for “anti-party activities” one year back, senior Congress leader Brar was reinstated on Friday by party chief Sonia Gandhi, who refused to accept his resignation and revoked his suspension.

Brar’s homecoming was at a time when the party high command is facing a tough challenge to resolve the ongoing leadership tussle in the state unit, with the Congress party divided vertically between two power centres—each led by Congress Deputy leader in lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa.

At one point of time, Brar was Capt Amarinder's ardent critic. With his homecoming, Capt Amarinder may find himself at variance with not just the PPCC chief Bajwa, against whom he has already opened a front, but also with Brar, a former Congress Working Committee member.Interestingly, Brar had once been a strong contender for the post of PPCC chief, which was later given to Bajwa, while replacing Capt Amarinder from party's top post in Punjab.

After remaining in a state of suspended animation for almost more than six months, Brar decided to return to his parent party after he, apparently, failed to get an entry either in BJP or the Aam Aadmi Party.Brar had, in January, announced his resignation from the party amidst speculation of keeping himself afloat by boarding the saffron brigade during BJP national president Amit Shah’s proposed Amritsar rally on January 22, which was then postpones, and was never held. He also made unsuccessful attempts to join AAP, but to no avail.

As the Congress is in no mood to take any chances and making all-out efforts to strengthen the “divided” party ahead an all-important 2017 state assembly polls, Brar’s return may further fortify its base in Faridkot — known as Badal’s bastion — where he enjoys great influence.A former MP, Brar had defeated Sukhbir Badal, SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, during 1999 parliamentary elections from Faridkot.

Sonia Gandhi had, on the recommendations of the Congress Disciplinary Committee headed by former minister AK Antony, suspended Brar on August 14 last year, after 2014 lok Sabha polls, for alleged “anti-party” activities, along with Haryana’s Birender Singh, who later joined BJP.Brar had minced no words to attack the party chief Sonia Gandhi and her son and party’s vice-president Rahul Gandhi advising them to go on a “sabbatical” to introspect reasons for party's resounding defeat in 2014 lok Sabha polls. He had even cited a “disconnect” between the party leadership and workers and blamed it for the Congress debacle.

Brar’s suspension was revoked after he cleared the “misconception” regarding his statement during his meetings with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

“There were some misunderstandings between Jagmeet Brar and the party leadership. After holding meetings and discussions, these all have been sorted out and things have been explained,” the Congress national general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Shakeel Ahmed told The Pioneer.

Ahmed said that after clearing the air, Brar’s suspension has been revoked, and his resignation becomes meaningless in the wake of his return to the party.

Meanwhile, PPCC president Bajwa thanked Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for revoking senior Congress leader and former member of Congress Working Committee Jagmeet Singh Brar’s suspension.

Welcoming the move, Bajwa said that Brar has been soldier of the party and this would further strengthen the party in Punjab in the coming Vidhan Sabha polls. He also expected that Brar will work for the betterment of the party in Punjab.

--ENDS--