For the first time since the Congress party lost badly in the 2014 lok Sabha elections, its top leaders fell in line under direct supervision of “monitor” Rahul Gandhi, the party’s vice-president, in Faridkot district on Thursday.
Amid stiff power struggle within the party’s Punjab unit and unresolved leadership issue, the two political rivals former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa — were seen “together” matching their footsteps with Rahul Gandhi.
The young Gandhi scion, who was on two-day Punjab visit to meet the families of two Sikh protestors killed during police firing in Kotakpura past month, not only gave the party an opportunity to attack the SAD-BJP Government, but also present a united show among the people.
Rahul Gandhi, in fact, assured the people that the Congress would put up a united front. His assertion came after the people reportedly pointed at the party being a “divided house” in Punjab.
The party vice-president, late in the evening, also held a closed-door meeting with the top leaders, including Capt Amarinder, Bajwa, Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar, AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs Shakeel Ahmad, former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Union Minister Ambika Soni, party MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Indian Youth Congress president Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, former MP Vijay Inder Singla, among others.
It has been learnt that Rahul has cautioned the State leaders that a divided Congress would not succeed in its aim to topple the SAD-BJP regime in the State. “I cannot see anyone’s future here, I can only see the Akali’s future here. We have to be together, Punjab Congress will fight as one unit. Right now no one but Akalis are prospering here, only they seem to have a future, we want that everyone in Punjab has a prosperous future,” Rahul Gandhi said, while addressing the villagers in Gurusar village.
Rahul pointed that the Congress will “collectively” fight for the future of Punjab, its farmers, Dalits and labourers and change the present Government.
“Congress will change the present SAD-BJP Government by giving a united fight. All the senior leaders of party in Punjab have given me an assurance that they would remain united for the better future of the state,” he said while pointing towards various State leaders accompanying him including Bajwa and Capt Amarinder.
Replying to media queries, Rahul asserted, “Today is last day of factionalism in party” as he raised the hands of Bajwa and Amarinder to show their unity.
Rahul’s claims of “united Congress” in Punjab hold great significance in the wake of intense infighting between the two power centres, headed by Bajwa and Capt Amarinder. The internal strife between the two leaders has been going on ever since the party lost two polls under Amarinder and Bajwa replaced him as State party chief.
The two leaders have, since then, been indulged in war of words which eventually reached a breaking point leading to intervention by the party high command. To sort out the leadership crisis in the state, the high command has now decided to restructure its Punjab unit ahead 2017 assembly polls by appointing a new party chief.
Rahul, who has been spearheading the task of reorganisation of Punjab Congress unit, held series of meetings with Capt Amarinder, Bajwa, other senior leaders, including Bhattal, one-to-one meetings with party MlAs, district party presidents, among others.
Sources indicated that the party has made up its mind to once again hand over the party reigns to Capt Amarinder, considering his popularity not only among the party leaders but also among the masses, but is holding back its decision in the wake of former Chief Minister’s demand of giving “full control” of party affairs in the State.
later in the evening, Rahul held a detailed meeting with the senior leaders to discuss about the unity among state Congress rank and file. It has been learnt that Rahul has indicated that considering the anti-Government wave in the State and also at the Centre, only a “united” Congress can make a comeback in Punjab.
The leaders have also reportedly assured Rahul of remaining united to put SAD-BJP combine rule to an end.
SAD-BJP combine is going to complete its two consecutive terms in 2017 when the State Assembly will go to polls.