Parliamentary polls 2014 are drawing nearer, but Congressmen in Punjab are travelling farther from each other.
The distance have only increased during last couple of months and the detachment once again manifested itself on Saturday in party’s State-level National Integration Rally, attended by party”s several central leaders.
The absence of State Congress’ senior leaders Capt Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal from the rally organised to mark death anniversary of former Chief Minister Beant Singh was enough to indicate that party is still a divided house in Punjab. The rally was attended by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Shakeel Ahmad, AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary, Congress legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar, among others.
Notwithstanding back-to-back defeats, Punjab Congress is marred by factionalism and dissension at various levels. After Congress high command reposed faith in Capt Amarinder by appointing him as permanent invitee to all-powerful Congress Working Committee, the two power centers emerged within the party — one under him, and another headed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa — with their own set of loyalists.
Not to overlook the firebrand leader Bhattal. Relegated to a position where she has been playing a second fiddle since long, Bhattal too kept on asserting herself with her own supporters. Her differences with Capt Amarinder are not unknown.
Even as Bajwa, after taking over party reigns in Punjab, has been trying to take everyone, including Capt Amarinder, along, the Patiala Royal has time and again opposed his appointment as state party chief, and questioned his abilities. The rift between the two triggered recently when Capt Amarinder questioned Bajwa”s authority in naming candidates for various assembly and parliamentary segments. Butting in, in-charge of Punjab party affairs Shakeel Ahmad advised Bajwa to avoid announcing candidates. Following, Bajwa beat a retreat admitting that he was not authorised to announce the candidates.
In fact, Ahmad had also asked the State unit, during his address in party”s Saturday rally, to “stop infighting”, and work unitedly for party in run up to lok Sabha elections. “It was time for all Congress leaders of Punjab to work unitedly and aggressively under Bajwa”s leadership,” said Ahmad. It has been learnt that party high command had given directions to all Congress leaders to support Bajwa.
A senior Congress leader told The Pioneer that Capt Amarinder has always stayed away from events, even during his tenure as Chief Minister and State party chief, recognising sacrifices of “assassinated” chief minister and annual homage ceremonies at Beant Singh”s Samadhi. The leader added that Bhattal, though used to lead the party on all occasions connected with Beant Singh”s sacrifices, she did not make it this time probably due to her some other important engagement.