Congress Deputy leader in lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh is all set to brave the summer heat. Come July 1, the Patiala Royal will hit the streets to launch his mass contact programme from Jalandhar.
At the same time, the party high command also has a word of caution for the former Chief Minister. It has warned Capt Amarinder from making any comment against any of his party colleague during his rallies or public meetings.
Even as Capt Amarinder camp has been claiming that programme’s sole aim was to strengthen party in Punjab and to make everyone aware of the anti-people policies of the SAD-BJP regime, the political observers see it as an opportunity to hit the State party chief Partap Singh Bajwa and to show the party high command Capt Amarinder’s popularity.
His programme came at a time when Bajwa is already conducting his mass contact programmes across 34 reserved constituencies of the state — a move which also has the backing of the party’s national vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Capt Amarinder’s programme received a final stamp of approval on Thursday during his meeting with his loyalists, who could not attend his earlier luncheon on June 17 owing to prior engagements, to discuss the same.
Around 40 of his loyalists, including eight sitting legislators and about 22 former MlAs, met Capt Amarinder at his Chandigarh residence to finalise his mass contact programme with the aim to fortify party’s base in Punjab.
Starting from Jalandhar, the mass contact programmes would be held in all assembly segments from July 1 under the leadership of Capt Amarinder. His loyalists, including sitting MlAs, have assured him of their participation without fail.
To make sure that his programme outnumbers that of Bajwa’s ongoing show, Capt Amarinder has urged his loyalists to mobilise the party workers to ensure maximum public participation in their respective areas.
The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held in Jalandhar. Even the Capt Amarinder’s spokespersons claimed that there was no such meeting scheduled for the day and the leaders were meeting the former chief minister was just a “routine” affair.
Capt Amarinder’s loyalists is of the view that only he can bring the party back in power, and thus demanding Bajwa’s removal since long. In fact, to counter Bajwa’s active approach, Capt Amarinder was suggested by his supporters to change his strategy and go amongst people to prove his popularity.
For the same, Capt Amarinder would have the support of no less than 30 sitting legislators, out of total 44, besides the former MlAs, and other senior leaders.
By organizing these programmes, Capt Amarinder would not only dampen Bajwa’s show, but would also show the party high command that he still enjoys a great popularity among the masses and still calls the shots among the party leaders. By this, he would also pressurize the party high command to oust Bajwa.
On the other hand, the party high command is seeing a positive side of Capt Amarinder’s decision. “Such programme would only strengthen the party…it is good for the party as they would be highlighting issues concerning the state and against the ruling SAD-BJP government,” said the party’s state affairs in-charge Shakeel Ahmed.
At one fell swoop, Ahmed also made it clear that in case, he would make any statement against any party leader, a strict action could be initiated against him.