Struggling hard for survival after a series of growling defeats, Punjab Congress has dug its own grave by indulging in fatal infighting. The indications of internal strife between the camps of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa are many, justifications few.
Some of its own leaders now believed that the allegations of Capt Amarinder Singh writing a letter to Congress national president Sonia Gandhi on Bajwa’s antecedents may very well prove to be the last nail in the Congress’ coffin.
The allegations come at a time when the party’s arch rival Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has scored over it in every sphere - be it the Assembly elections or the civic body polls.
The veracity of the allegations is yet to be established. But, the fact that Capt Amarinder Singh has been staying away from the State ever since Bajwa took hold of the reins indicated that all is not well within the party.
With the internal strife, power struggle, disunity, factionalism within the Congress regardless of repeated defeats - the party is actually on a suicidal path in Punjab.
The constant tug of war for power between Capt Amarinder and Bajwa is nothing new. At the time when Capt Amarinder Singh was the State party chief, Bajwa continuously tried to pull him down by one way or another. Similarly, when Bajwa was appointed as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Capt Amarinder Singh maintained that he would have suggested “better option” than him.
In fact, on the day of Bajwa’s coronation ceremony as PPCC chief, Capt Amarinder held a parallel show of strength at the same time, though he later joined the event along with his team. What is more, Capt Amarinder Singh had also made it a point not to attend the meetings or workers’ conference conducted by Bajwa. In fact, Patiala MlA Capt Amarinder Singh was conspicuous by his absence during Bajwa’s first meet in his constituency after his elevation to the party’s top post.
Patiala Royal had once again showed his rebellious attitude by skipping the meeting of newly-appointed party affairs in-charge in Punjab Shakeel Ahmed during his maiden visit.
For a very long time, it was a lull before the storm. But, with Capt Amarinder Singh’s appointment as a permanent invitee of the party’s highest decision-making body - the Congress Working Committee (CWC) - only recently, the political tornado is brewing again. It was apprehended that the party would now have two power centres - one under Capt Amarinder Singh, and another under State party chief Bajwa. Moreover, it was believed that in all probability, Capt Amarinder would now have the highest rank in the State party hierarchy - something totally denied by the State party president himself.
Then came the exposé of Capt Amarinder Singh’s purported letter alleging Bajwa of terror links which has once again fan the flames of power struggle between the two.
Even as Capt Amarinder Singh had categorically denied of writing any such letter to the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, reliable sources in the party has informed The Pioneer that the letter was indeed written by Bajwa’s predecessor against him when Capt Amarinder was the state party chief.
Sources disclosed that the letter had levelled allegations against Bajwa regarding smuggling, instead of terror links.
Though the winds of opposition were blowing against Capt Amarinder Singh for along time, he managed to stick to his ground. But, with a series of defeats going against his credibility of an able administrator and a competent party leader, the high command took the call and replaced him.
The party high command found a replacement in Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa. But, even after about four months of taking over as PPCC chief Bajwa could neither match the political stature of Capt Amarinder Singh, nor rival party leaders - Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal, believed the Congress party leaders.
In fact, Bajwa was apparently not given a complete free hand by the All India Congress Committee (AICC). Within few days of his appointment as State party chief, Bajwa’s wings were clipped with appointment of four vice-presidents to assist him. Earlier, Bajwa had also faced an embarrassment when his first two appointments as the party head was were turned down by the party high command.
The recent decision of the Congress to introduce Capt Amarinder Singh to central politics may appear to be a viable solution to the problem of infighting. But, with allegations of Capt Amarinder Singh training his guns against Bajwa, it is clear that the fight for superiority and command is far from over, and may sound death knell for the Congress party ahead 2014 lok Sabha polls.