Congress party, for the time being, is not willing to change the 'general' even after a series of mortifying defeats in the battles fought on the rough political combat zones of Punjab. The party's Central leadership on Thursday made it clear that the State party chief Partap Singh Bajwa will remain first-in-command, but refused to say for how long.
In a cleverly worded statement, the Congress general secretary and Punjab party affairs in-charge Shakeel Ahmed said that Bajwa will continue as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president as long as he enjoys the confidence of the top brass. “Bajwa will continue as PPCC chief till he enjoys the confidence of party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi,” said Ahmed, who was in Chandigarh to preside over five-day long exercise to strengthen the party's organizational setup.
Ahmed's reaction came to the queries regarding change of guard in Punjab. There were reports that the party high command has put its stamp of approval on the name of senior party leader and sitting MlA lal Singh, but is holding back the announcement. “I am the party general secretary and got to know about PPCC chief being replaced from the media reports only…these are hearsay…there is no confusion within the party over leadership…nor with the high command…Bajwa is the party president in Punjab and remains so,” he said.
Since long, oust-Bajwa campaign, spearheaded by former Chief Minister and senior party leader Capt Amarinder Singh, was being run by his rivals. The campaign gained momentum after the party faced resounding defeat during 2014 lok Sabha polls with even Bajwa failing to secure his own seat - Gurdaspur.
Vocal about his views, Capt Amarinder openly asked for Bajwa's removal. Even the party MlAs and senior leaders, hailing from Capt Amarinder's camp, also expressed their views to replace Bajwa with Patiala Royal to bring the party back on victory path. Amid talks of Bajwa's replacement, the name of lal Singh was doing the rounds as the next PPCC chief. In fact, in recent reshuffling of state Congress units, the Congress high command left out Punjab giving further rise to speculations.
"leadership is well aware of Capt Amarinder Singh's views. They have taken note of it….He is our senior leader and party's deputy leader in lok Sabha and he had remained Chief Minister here," he said while pointing that Capt Amarinder had never said that he would not accept high command's decision.Ahmed also left it over the national level disciplinary committee, led by former Union Minister AK Anthony, to take note whether Capt Amarinder's "outburst" amounts to party indiscipline.
Bajwa, while talking with The Pioneer, maintained that he was also disappointed after seeing the reports that he would be replaced by senior leader lal Singh, but, at the same time, maintained that any such thing has not been conveyed by the high command. Sources informed that Bajwa has talked to the party chief Sonia Gandhi who had assured him such a thing had not even taken up for discussion.