With Assembly elections fast approaching, Punjab Congress has come out with a schedule for the Ministers in the State Government to ensure the party passes the electoral test with “flying colours”.
The decision, taken after the “coordination meeting” between the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday morning, was aimed at better coordination between the party and the Government ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, scheduled for early next year.
Sidhu, accompanied by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) working president and MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra and PPCC general secretary (organisation) and MLA Pargat Singh, shared the proposal of Cabinet Ministers remaining present at the party headquarters in Chandigarh, Punjab Congress Bhawan, and listen to the grievances of the party leaders and functionaries, including the MLAs.
In fact, during his installation ceremony, Sidhu had asked the Ministers to devote some time to the party and sit in the Punjab Congress Bhawan to meet the party leaders as per their choice. As per his declaration, Sidhu had also shifted his base to the party headquarters from August 16.
Capt Amarinder was quick enough to accept the proposal, while finalising the “duty roaster” of the Ministers, till December starting from Monday (August 23).
“Have deputed all my Cabinet ministers to be present for three hours from 11 am to 2 pm at @INCPunjab office daily beginning Monday, as per the roster, to interact with public and party cadre,” the Chief Minister tweeted along with a schedule for the Ministers for the next four months.
According to the roster, one Cabinet Minister will be present at the State Congress office for three hours daily, by rotation, for meetings with MLAs and other party functionaries to discuss issues relating to their constituencies or areas and address any grievances.
As per the decision, one Minister each will be available at the Congress Bhawan from Monday for three hours, and in any case, the Minister deputed for a particular day is unable to make it for some reason, he or she shall arrange for a substitute in consultation with any other Minister.
The arrangement will be in place five days in a week, from Monday to Friday, said the Chief Minister, adding that this will help in better coordination between the State Government and party functionaries in the run-up to the 2022 assembly elections.
“Highly positive coordination meeting on proposal for roster of ministers to sit at Punjab Congress Bhawan!” tweeted Sidhu, after meeting the Chief Minister at his Siswan farmhouse, along with pictures.
Nagra, after the meeting, said that the Chief Minister was prompt in accepting the proposal of the state unit. “The ministers will lend an ear to concerns of party cadres and inform them about the achievements of the State Government,” he said, playing down differences between the two leaders.
10-MEMBER STRATEGIC POLICY GROUP
During the meeting, Capt Amarinder and Sidhu agreed to set up a 10-member strategic policy group for better coordination between the party and the State Government. Giving Capt Amarinder his due, Sidhu even asked him to head the group. The 10-member strategic policy group will have Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, and Social Security Minister Aruna Chaudhary as members, along with Sidhu, four party working presidents - Kuljit Singh Nagra, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Sangat Singh Gilzian, and Pawan Goel, besides General Secretary (organisation) Pargat Singh.
It will also work to expedite the implementation of Government programmes and reform initiatives. The Group will hold weekly meetings, in consultation with other Ministers, experts etc as may be required. It will discuss and review the progress of various State Government initiatives already under implementation, and will also suggest measures to expedite the same.
REVIVAL OF TIES
The political storm within the Congress party appears to be abetting with both Capt Amarinder and Sidhu coming together to devise the party’s strategy for the 2022 assembly polls. The second meeting between the two leaders, after Sidhu’s appointment as the state party chief, gave indications of the revival of ties between Capt Amarinder and his bête noire Sidhu, who have all along been sharing bitter ties since long. As Sidhu continued his attacks against his own party’s Government over slew of issues even after his elevation, the Chief Minister wasted no time in raising the matter with the party high command, following which the two leaders have been asked to mend their ways and walk together for the party’s interest.