Capt’s men to be rehabilitated in new state Cong executive

Tuesday, 16/07/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130716/punjab.htm#3

Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh's team will be rehabilitated in the new state Congress executive under Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa.

Reliable sources said Bajwa, who has submitted a proposed list of the new executive to the party high command, has included the names of most of Amarinder's loyalists besides the son-in law of former Congress Legislature Party Leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

The sources said Bajwa had decided to play safe to keep the PCC together. He had ensured that Amarinder loyalists no longer complained that they were being kept out of the new setup.

However, it is not certain whether senior leaders such as Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Kewal Dhillon and Rana KP would be made vice-presidents in the new executive.

It is felt that the party has already appointed four vice-presidents and given them separate zones. Hence, it should not appoint more persons to the post who could be appointed general secretaries.

Dalit leader from the Doaba region Choudhary Jagjit Singh, a staunch Amarinder loyalist, may not make it to the executive with one of the vice-presidents protesting against his inclusion. The party had earlier appointed young Dalit leader Tarlochan Soondh as vice-president and given him charge of the Doaba region

Party sources said Bajwa had recommended the name of Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh for the new executive and that the latter could be nominated as general secretary. Rana Gurjit does not see eye to eye with Bajwa, mainly because of the latter’s support to another Doaba leader, Sukhpal Khaira.

In a balancing act, Bajwa has recommended the name of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's son-in-law, Vikram Bajwa, for the post of general secretary. Bajwa was a general secretary in the old dispensation too.

Those who took former PCC president Capt Amarinder head on in the recent past, including Amloh legislator Randeep Singh, have also been adjusted in the new executive. Randeep Singh's name has been recommended for the post of general secretary.

Bajwa has reportedly recommended adjusting old vice- presidents as general secretaries. He has recommended a 40-member executive with 10 general secretaries and 20 secretaries. The earlier list had 11 vice-presidents, nine general secretaries, seven secretaries, a treasurer and 33 executive members.

Most of the earlier district Congress presidents will keep their job. Samrala MLA Amrik Dhillon’s son Kamaljit Dhillon will continue as party treasurer.

Bajwa, when approached, said: "All I can say is that the list has been submitted to the high command and that it will be announced soon. I've made sure that all established leaders are part of the new executive. I have not favoured any group."

The Balancing Act

• Bajwa had recommended the name of Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh. He could be nominated as general secretary
  
  
• He has recommended the name of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's son-in-law, Vikram Bajwa, for the post of general secretary
  
  
• Bajwa was a general secretary in the old dispensation as well.
  
  
• Amloh legislator Randeep Singh's name has been recommended for the post of general secretary
  
  
• The PCC chief has recommended a 40-member executive with 10 general secretaries and 20 secretaries
  
  
• Samrala MLA Amrik Dhillon's son Kamaljit Dhillon will continue as party treasurer
  
  
• Most of the earlier district Congress presidents will keep their job