Challenge before Capt Aamarinder is that of negative perception about his government. Can he change the gear of his government in fourth year?

Punjab represents an interesting paradox.

The perception of the very stable Congress government in this strategically located border state headed by Capt Amarinder  Singh, who in his first term had the image of being decisive and that of taking hard decisions, is now that of being non-functioning and a government on contract.

Talk to any Congress person in the state and he would burst out. The Congressmen are still to have a feel that this is their own government although it has today completed three years in office. This is the government in which the domination is that of the bureaucrats. This was one of the major issues that had emerged during the recent Assembly session during which the Congress members gave vent to their feeling of being persona non grata. The inaccessibility of Capt Amarinder Singh is an old issue.

He has further distanced himself from the people after shifting to his newly constructed private residence on the outskirts of Chandigarh. He now shares neighbourhood with Akali Dal supremo and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

On the other hand, hit by revolt against Sukhbir’s leadership by a section within the party, the Akali Dal shows little signs of revival. This was conveyed to Sukhbir by a party leader recently in unambiguous terms after writing a letter to him. The House of Badals continues to  be overshadowed by the Bargari sacrilege and the related issues.

The Aam Aadmi Party that had emerged as the main opposition relegating the Akali Dal to the third position stands disintegrated. It seems that party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has finally written off Punjab.

It is under this situation that the Amarinder government has completed three years in office. Of course, it is to the credit of Capt Amarinder Singh that the Congress has win every successive election after coming into power in the state despite the image of the government of being non-functional.

Can Capt Amarinder  Singh reverse this perception?

Nothing has changed in the state during the last three years as the people continue to be confronted with the same issues that are the legacy of the earlier Akali Dal government. The  ruling Congress has not fulfilled even a single major promise that have political dimensions.

Besides that of being a non-functional government, the other perception is that of mix up between Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals. Cricketer turned polotician Navjot Singh Sidhu had to pay the price of pointing out this mix up but he chose a wrong time and wrong platform to speak up.

Some of the cabinet colleagues of Capt Amarinder Singh have been vocal for the last several months while expressing helplessness to set things right. Running the  government is not just improving some statistics but taking steps to provide quality life to the people.

State party chief Sunil Jakhar today while speaking  in the presence of Capt Amarinder Singh and his team at the presentation of the completion of three years in office made subtle reference to what has not been done by expressing the hope that Capt Amarinder Singh was moving in the right direction on these issues and take action.

He talked of the Bargari sacrilege and action against the mafias controlling transport and sand mining. It may be mentioned that the companies associated with Sukhbir Singh Badal dominate the private transport business.  It is said that the transport minister can neither transfer even a clerk nor change the timetable of a private bus. This is not just a perception. It is too well known as to who are the people in the Chief Minister’s Office who look after the interests of the House of Badals.

Jakhar also referred to the power purchase agreements entered into by the Badal government that have proved to be big burden on the state exchequer. The ministers want the blame to be pinpointed at the political level that is to be brought out on the PPAs in the near future.

The Congress is in disarray at the national level and it is only Punjab from where the party can hope of bouncing back at the national level. However, Capt Amarinder Singh has to give out the signal that he means business and change people’s perception.

The minimum people expect is action in cases of sacrilege and against the transport mafia as Capt Amarinder Singh had himself promised before the action.

He has to walk the talk.