In the intricate political tapestry of Punjab, a cloud of doubt and uncertainty hangs over the proposed alliance between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. A recent meeting, involving AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has triggered a wave of restlessness among Punjab’s political leaders of the two parties, intensifying the speculation around the fate of the much-debated alliance.
The meeting, convened to deliberate on the potential Congress-AAP collaboration in Punjab — as a part of the pan-India opposition bloc — INDIA, has not only failed to dispel uncertainties but has also deepened the unease among state leaders. The trilateral discourse between Kejriwal, Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi in the presence of prominent AAP leaders including Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak, has now emerged as a focal point, hinting at the possible partnership while also giving rise to the skepticism surrounding the Congress-AAP coalition in Punjab, at the same time.
The uncertainty has not escaped the notice of the leaders within the Congress ranks, leading to a palpable sense of hesitation and concern. The meeting with Kejriwal, anticipated by Punjab Congress leaders for some time, has unexpectedly left them in a state of limbo, grappling with unforeseen developments and unanswered questions.
Notably, during a meeting of Punjab Congress leaders held in December end last year with Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and the committee overseeing the state’s political affairs, a categorical decision was taken that the high command would not forge an alliance with AAP in Punjab without the explicit consent of the state unit.
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the state party affairs’ in-charge Devendra Yadav, who is yet to submit his report on the alliance issue. It has been learnt that Yadav, who was on Punjab visit past week, had actively sought opinions from the legislators and block-level leaders, attempting to gauge the sentiment regarding the alliance.
The decision regarding the alliance is expected to delay as the senior leader Raul Gandhi embarked on two-month long ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from Sunday (January 14). While Rahul Gandhi would remain occupied with his much-talked-about journey, it would potentially push back a final decision on the AAP-Congress alliance — which, as per party sources, is a strategic move by the grand old party amidst the dissent brewing among the party leaders in Punjab.
Interestingly, in the face of a burgeoning pan-India opposition bloc and ongoing discussions about the seat sharing, internal dissent within the Congress party in Punjab has come to the forefront — with the party witnessing a vertical split.
Even as three-time MP and former Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had extended support to the Congress high-command’s decision to ally with AAP in Punjab, the senior party leaders in the state, led by party chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Partap Singh Bajwa, vehemently opposed any potential alliance with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The leaders have not only expressed their dissent during some of the party rallies and events, but the joint voice of disapproval was also reverberated in the Delhi Durbar. That was not all! A section of leaders had also warned of a potential “mass rebellion” within the party if an alliance with AAP materializes.
The internal dissent extends beyond mere disagreement, with several Congress leaders openly opposing any pre-electoral understanding with AAP. The aversion is fueled by cases registered against many Congress leaders by the Vigilance Bureau since AAP assumed power last year.
Controversy Surrounds Sidhu's Moga Rally: District Unit Labels it ‘Private Event’
The anticipated rally of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu), scheduled for January 21 in Moga, has sparked opposition within the party ranks. Despite objections raised by senior leaders before the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in-charge Devendra Yadav and his warning of indulging in indiscipline, Sidhu remains unyielding in his stance. Now, the Moga District Congress Unit has officially voiced its dissent.
Sidhu plans to conduct the rally in the prime location of Moga — a decision met with strong disapproval from the Congress Moga district unit president Sukhjit Singh Kaka Lohgarh, who said that there was no Congress-sponsored rally scheduled for January 21.
Kaka Lohgarh suggested that any rally organized would be on a private level, while distancing the official party from the event. So far, there has been no response from Sidhu or the leaders responsible for organizing the rally.
Interestingly, the rally is being orchestrated by Dharampal, the son of former Moga unit chief Maheshinder Singh Nihalsinghwala. While Dharampal does not hold a prominent party position, he is actively involved in the Youth Congress.
Information available revealed that posters for the rally have already been displayed in the area, but notably, the pictures of any district unit leaders are conspicuously absent. Instead, the poster prominently features Malvika Sood, Congress’ in-charge of the Moga assembly constituency and the party candidate in 2022 assembly polls. Mavika is the sister of Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood.
In a surprising turn of events, Sood disassociated herself from the rally, asserting that she was unaware of the event, and her photo was used without permission. She has requested the organizers to remove her image from the promotional materials.
The latest controversy come close on the heels of Sidhu’s previous rallies in Bathinda and Hoshiarpur, both of which faced opposition. Punjab Congress’ senior leaders, including Devendra Yadav, expressed dissatisfaction with the events. Despite these concerns, Sidhu remains steadfast in his approach.