Capt, his men not on Cong coordination committee

Saturday, 12/10/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131012/punjab.htm#1

New Delhi : A day after differences in the Punjab unit came to the fore in the presence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Sangrur, the party high command today announced a coordination panel for the smooth functioning of the faction-ridden Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

Approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the committee has PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa as its convener.

It includes two senior leaders representing the Scheduled Castes and OBCs — Mohinder Kaypee and Lal Singh.

Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has not been named in the panel. Also, none of the panel members are counted among his confidantes.

The six-member committee convened by Bajwa comprises AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab affairs Shakeel Ahmed, secretary in charge Harish Choudhary, Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab PCC chief and special invitee to the Congress Working Committee Mohinder Kaypee and Lal Singh, former state minister, once considered close to Capt Amarinder Singh.

The committee, formed at a time when the PPCC is yet to be reconstituted, will face the daunting task of uniting the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

While forming the panel, the party president has done the balancing act by including prominent Jat, OBC and SC leaders from the state.

Importantly, Lal Singh has managed a plum position in the Punjab Congress soon after he publicly distanced himself from Capt Amarinder Singh.

In April this year, Lal Singh had openly questioned the absence of Capt Amarinder Singh and his son Raninder Singh at a function organised in Patiala to host Bajwa on his first visit to the city after taking charge as PPCC president. Kaypee, once considered close to Capt Amarinder Singh, has also drifted away from the former Chief Minister. He is now his own man.

Capt Amarinder Singh’s waning influence is evident from the fact that none of his aides have found a place on the coordination panel at a critical time when the Congress is gearing for the General Election. Insiders said due representation had been accorded to leaders from all three regions of Punjab: Bajwa representing Majha (he is Gurdaspur MP); Lal Singh representing Malwa (his home city being Patiala); and Kaypee representing Doaba.

The committee is expected to ensure that the party stands together in the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll and presents a tough challenge to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance.