Infighting in the Congress has come to the fore yet again. Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today called an important meeting of “campaign committee”, in which about 50 to 60 people participated but insiders maintained that the meeting was attended by leaders who were reportedly “unhappy” with the high command’s decision to reappoint MP from Ludhiana Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the PPCC president. Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurkirat Kotli, Kamaljit Karwal and Lakhbir Singh Lakha from Payal were amongst others who attended the meeting.
A majority of the Congress leaders preferred to remain tight-lipped over the issue while Surinder Dawar, who has been in the Congress for the past 40 years, said that he had nothing to do with it and would not interfere in anything because, for him, the high command’s decision was commendable.
“Moreover, Raja Warring has a lot of influence among people, and he is doing well, so the decision taken by the high command must have been very well thought-out,” said Dawar.
Sanjay Talwar, district president of Congress, who is a close aide of Raja Warring, too said that the group led by Charanjit Singh Channi had called the meeting. “Perhaps, they did not like Raja Warring becoming the PPCC president, but it is the high command’s decision, which we all should accept. As far as Raja Warring is concerned, as the power is in his hands now, the ticket distribution, which will happen in Punjab for the upcoming Assembly elections, has also become quite a topic of discussion but the entire committee’s suggestions will also be involved in finding suitable candidates,” said Talwar.
Well-placed sources in the Congress cadre informed that in today’s meeting called by Channi, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, former minister, Gurkeerat Kotli, Lakhbir Lakha, former MLA, Payal and Kamaljit Singh Karwal had participated from Ludhiana.
“Others present were OP Soni, Tripat Bajwa etc. Basically the main objective was to announce the face of CM. Capt Amarinder Singh also had become the president of the campaign committee and later became the CM. These decisions are taken later by the party but the group which convened meeting openly showed that they were not happy with the party’s decisions,” said a seasoned Congress leader wishing not to be quoted, adding that a majority of these leaders were unhappy over the reappointment of Raja Warring as PPCC president.
