Bajwa backs Capt’s claim to CM’s post
Thursday, 10/11/2011
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111111/punjab.htm#2
Barely 10 days after the Punjab Bachao rallies, Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh has received a boost with the entire party rank and file supporting his projection as the chief ministerial candidate in case it returns to power in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Capt Amarinder achieved a victory of sorts yesterday at Nadala in the Bholath constituency where Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa, also a claimant for the top post, claiming that the party would return to power and that Amarinder would be the Chief Minister. Questioned on his statement later, Bajwa said there was a need to project a single leader as the chief ministerial candidate to remove any confusion on this score when the Akalis and the Congress were arraigned in a tough electoral battle in rural areas.
The Congress leader said he was aware that the party did not declare its chief ministerial candidate before the elections but “ it will be better to project Amarinder as the unanimous choice of the party for the top post.”
Though Capt Amarinder was appointed PCC chief in October last year, there has been persistent speculation in party circles that the post of CM is still open. Senior leaders Jagmeet Brar, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Partap Bajwa, all claimants to the top post, are known to be one when it comes to challenging Amarinder’s authority. Bajwa’s statement is set to change equations.
Sources said Bajwa felt cornered in the Majha region with a majority of ticket hopefuls firmly aligned with Capt Amarinder. Supporting Amarinder will give Bajwa some leeway in the Majha region where he wants to be projected as a regional satrap.
Forthcoming public rallies are set to further strengthen Amarinder’s hold on the party with senior leaders already projecting him as the future CM. Potential challengers have become wary of striking any discordant note.
