‘Exit of Bir Devinder, Brar inconsequential’
Sunday, 08/05/2016
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
HOSHIARPUR: Exit of old warriors Jagmeet Brar and Bir Devinder Singh from the Congress would not affect the party’s prospects in the election, Rajya Sabha member and former Punjab Congress president Partap Bajwa said here on Saturday.
“The party should have tried to retain them but ultimately it is the party which is supreme. You never know if the two again return to the Congress fold,” he said, while addressing media at the residence of PPCC legal cell chairman Inderpal Singh Dhanna, where he was welcomed by party workers on his maiden visit to the district after entering the Rajya Sabha.
“We have seen big guns going down. Many political leaders who tried their luck outside their parent parties went into oblivion. A little dissent is all right to keep the leadership on toes but no member should cross the limit,” he added.
Bajwa endorsed Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi’s decision not to announce the chief ministerial candidate for Punjab prior to the election, adding that a Pradesh Congress chief was nonetheless the ‘face’ of the party in his state.
“It will be a Congress versus SAD-BJP contest in 2017. The Aam Aadmi Party is just an illusion. The SAD has already conceded defeat by deciding to fight the UP assembly election,” he claimed.
Asked if he missed active state politics after joining the Upper House of Parliament, Bajwa said he was “at least away from the daily clatter”. “I am enjoying my new role and will try to raise as many public interest matters in the House as possible,” he said.
