Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Ludhiana, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa, who has been attempting to re-assert his position vis-a-vis his bête noir Capt Amarinder Singh, is turning his focus to the state’s industrial hub, Ludhiana.
Ever since Amarinder’s loyalist Pawan Dewan was replaced by Gurpreet Bassi Gogi as the District Congress Committee (DCC), Ludhiana (Urban) chief, Bajwa has been keen on “connecting” with the party workers and leaders in Ludhiana.
It’s learnt that Bajwa will be on a four-day visit to Ludhiana from October 26 to 29. Gogi, considered close to Bajwa, is scheduled to take charge as the DCC, Ludhiana (Urban), chief on October 26. Apart from attending the DCC programme, his agenda is visiting all six urban Assembly constituencies of Ludhiana.
Ludhiana has been a hotbed of controversy for the Congress ever since Dewan was replaced. Dewan had reacted strongly to Gogi’s appointment by levelling serious allegations against the PPCC chief in a press conference, prompting the state Congress to issue a show-cause notice to him.
Political observers say Dewan’s replacement and former Member of Parliament (MP) Manish Tewari’s shrinking political space in the new alignments in the district had changed political equations.
Ludhiana was never a comfortable political turf for Bajwa. Last October, the tussle between Dewan (who has shared a good rapport with Tewari) and Congress legislator Bharat Bhushan Ashu had reportedly hampered Bajwa’s mass contact programme in the district.
However, in the changed scenario, the new DCC chief and one of the factions of the District Congress, including Ashu, are supporting Bajwa. Even the Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu is not unfavourably disposed towards the PPCC chief, say observers.
Yet, it will not be a cakewalk for Bajwa to extend a hand of friendship to some senior Congress leaders in the district who are still miffed at being “ignored” by the PPCC chief while making appointments in the PPCC. Bajwa (who is on a foreign trip) was not available for comment as his phone was switched off.
The chairman of the state Congress economic and political cell, Ishwarjot Cheema, said: “On October 26, the PPCC president will be in Ludhiana for the District Congress Committee programme. From October 27 to 29, he’s on a three-day tour of the urban Assembly constituencies of Ludhiana. This tour is part of the all-district tours that he’s undertaking on the directions of the party high command. The objective is to strengthen the party organisation at all levels.”
