Capt skips CWC meet, Cong leadership under pressure

New Delhi,Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today did not attend the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in the Capital, putting further pressure on the party leadership to address the issue of Punjab Pradesh Congress leadership.

Amarinder Singh, a permanent invitee to the CWC, has demanded that the incumbent Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Partap Singh Bajwa, be replaced.
Although Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi downplayed Amarinder Singh’s absence, saying four CWC members out of 34 had not attended the meeting as they were not in Delhi, party seniors admitted in private that Amarinder Singh was making his presence felt by absenting himself.
The Tribune has learnt that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked her political secretary Ahmed Patel to engage Amarinder Singh on the issue although no formal channels of communication have yet been opened.
Sources said the firm position taken by Amarinder Singh has made any such engagement with him difficult. Yesterday, the former CM had softened his stand on the issue of Bajwa attending his Amritsar rally on January 22. The Tribune has learnt that top central leaders spoke to Amarinder Singh about the need to have Bajwa at the rally after which he issued a statement saying Bajwa could contact the rally coordinator, Rana Gurjeet.
The party’s biggest dilemma is the open war between Amarinder Singh and PPCC chief Bajwa. Rahul Gandhi had in October last backed Bajwa as the leader of the state unit. “Rahul Gandhi has on several occasions backed Bajwa. For the party to step back from that position is not easy. Also, the high command cannot be seen yielding to pressure of this sort.
“Tomorrow, other states, such as Assam, may make similar demands. So there is a dilemma. But the leadership understands that Amarinder Singh is an important leader and needs to be placated. Efforts will be made to bring the warring sides to talk and to take the dialogue to a stage where some negotiation is possible,” said a top Congress leader.
Leaders do not rule out the possibility of a third person being named Punjab Congress chief while Amarinder Singh may be named chairman of the Congress campaign committee. Bajwa will be in Delhi on January 15 and will meet the top leadership on the issue.

Bittu does a U-turn

Ludhiana: Local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, who had attended Capt Amarinder’s Singh’s luncheon meeting in Patiala on Sunday, has done a U-turn. He said the Amritsar rally announced by the former CM should be held under the PPCC. “Though Captain is a charismatic leader, party protocol must be followed,” he said. In what seems to be a bid to distance himself from Captain, Bittu said nothing much should be read into his attending
the luncheon meeting. — Minna Zutshi

Was not informed: Capt

I am in Patiala. I had no information about the CWC meeting. I learnt about it from the media this morning and by that time it was too late” Capt Amarinder Singh, former CM