Chandigarh: The simmering disquiet within the ruling
Congress in Punjab against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has finally
surfaced with former state party chief and Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh
Bajwa demanding “Amarinder-free Punjab”.
He gave vent to his feelings in an interview to a web TV
portal on Monday.
He called for exit of Capt Amarinder Singh for what he
asserted was his failure to even keep up the promises during the last three
years thereby providing space to Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal to
revive his party.
It is pertinent to mention here that several party MLAs have
come out openly against the functioning of the state government during the last
few months, especially in Patiala, the home district of Capt Amarinder Singh.
Capt Amarinder Singh and Bajwa have never maintained cordial
relations. It was Capt Amarinder Singh who at one time had launched campaigned
against him when Bajwa headed the state Congress and succeeded in his removal.
It was Capt Amarinder Singh who replaced him.
Now the roles have been reversed. It is Bajwa who has demanded
the change.
Bajwa in particular mentioned the Power Purchase Agreements
entered into by The Akali Dal government that are now bleeding Punjab. The Congress
had been promising to renegotiate the same after holding inquiry. Nothing has
been done. Ironically, it is Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal who is now on the offensive on the issue of
repeated hikes in power tariff rooted in these very PPAs that favour the power
generation companies.
Till the recent firing of salvos by Badal, It is a section
within the ruling Congress that has virtually been the main opposition to Capt
Amarinder Singh. Amarinder’s political moves are now dictated by the situation
within the Congress, rather than the Akali Dal or the Aam Aadmi Party.
He succeeded in placating one section of angry MLAs by
accommodating them as his advisers but the situation on the ground has not
changed. The Congress workers and activists stand alienated from their
government. It is the bureaucracy that is in total control and this has been
the major grouse. The Congress people at the grassroots don’t own their own
government.
This situation has repeatedly been brought to the notice of
Capt Amarinder Singh but the situation remains the same.
The basic issue after this eruption is whether Bajwa has
opened the front at his own or he has the blessings of some people in the so
called high command.
The Congress in Punjab has been on the winning spree but
towards the end of third year of this government, the situation has started
changing with the Akali Dal showing signs of revival despite revolt by leaders
like Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his son Parminder Singh Dhindsa against dictatorial
functioning of Sukhbir and Badal family control over the party.
Bajwa has demanded Amarinder-Mukt Punjab within days of Capt
Amarinder Singh saying that he was there to stay till the last unemployed youth
gets the appointment. The statement was politically loaded. He had given put the
signal loud and clear that he is in total control and was not bothered about
his detractors.
With Bajwa coming out into the open, the terms of factional
fight have changed.
Wait for the next move from Capt Amarinder Singh.
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