Facing opposition from both within the party and outside, Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa is turning on to party’s ‘yuvraj’ Rahul Gandhi’s support.
Congress vice-president’s much-hyped visit to Sangrur is not only being seen as a life-saving jacket to keep the Congress party afloat in Punjab, but also to keep away the sharks within. At least, this is what Bajwa is apparently trying to do by pleasing Rahul Gandhi.
The young Gandhi scion will address the rally after the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will lay the foundation stone for the Satellite Centre of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Sangrur district, where the youth leader will be the chief guest.
Rahul’s visit is politically significant as it came at a time when the Congress party is marred by factionalism and dissension among the party cadre that has even cost the party back-to-back defeats in five consecutive elections.
Not learning lessons from its past mistakes, the Congress leadership stand divided, besides the emergence of two power centres within the party — one headed by Bajwa, and another by Capt Amarinder, with their own set of loyalists.
The timing of the rally assumes significance as the voices of dissidence against Bajwa are being heard loud and clear. Recently, party’s sitting MlA raised a banner of revolt against Bajwa and has openly called for handing over the party reins to Bajwa’s predecessor Capt Amarinder Singh.
Youth icon Rahul Gandhi’s first rally in Punjab since 2012 Assembly polls may not only give a required boost among the “demoralised” party cadre, but is also expected to consolidate Bajwa’s position.
As the rally is considered to set the tone for next year’s lok Sabha polls, it also offers a platform to Bajwa to showcase his work since taking over the post. For Bajwa, it is expected to act as a double-edged weapon. He may end up getting the much-needed support from Rahul Gandhi to keep former CM Capt Amarinder Singh and his loyalists at bay, besides mustering support from the people for the party and its activities ahead of the crucial lok Sabha polls.
Considering party’s poor state of affairs in Punjab, Rahul Gandhi, in the recent times, has frequently visited the state — thrice. While the focus of his first two visits was to take stock of the reasons for party’s defeat in 2012 assembly polls, his third “surprise” visit in April this year was to oversee an ongoing training workshop to strengthen the party.
“This rally is very important for the state as it would sound a poll bugle for the 2014 elections. It is Rahul’s visit that is vital as every time he visited the state in the recent past, he came out with a great idea to improve and strengthen the party…we expect that his visit would prove a boon for the divided Congress,” a senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity, told The Pioneer.
The rally is as well considered to bolster the poll prospects of sitting Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla. For both Bajwa and Singla, the rally is a do-or-die battle. As the rally is going to be the first test of Bajwa’s organisational skills as it will be his maiden to be addressed by a senior central leader, the event would mark the beginning of election campaign for Singla ahead ensuing parliamentary elections. On the other hand, the rally of Congress’ election committee chief for 2014 elections Rahul Gandhi has already raised a dust of controversy.
While the Congress in general and Rahul Gandhi in particular are facing the ruling combine’s ire for not inviting the Punjab Government, especially the CM for the event, State’s senior party leader Capt Amarinder has refused to participate in the event citing court case following his name did not appear in the list of leaders who would share stage with Rahul Gandhi during the event.