Will Capt Amarinder’s threat to ministers, MLAs really work for Congress?

Thursday, 25/04/2019

https://www.brightpunjabexpress.com/index.php/2019/04/25/will-capt-amarinders-threat-to-ministers-mlas-really-work-for-congress/

Chandigarh : That the Congress party is fighting a ‘do or die’ battle at the national level to oust Narendra Modi is too well known. Despite Punjab having very limited number of seats, 13, the party still has high hopes high from here, as much as a clean sweep.

However, the party is worried about the internal sabotage, which has prompted the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to issue a strict and categorical warning to all the MLAs and ministers that their political future will directly depend on their performance in their respective assembly segments within the parliamentary constituency.

The Chief Minister categorically said that all those ministers in whose assembly segments the party will trail, will have to resign, while no MLA will get the ticket next time, if party loses in his/her assembly segment.

Given the fragmented opposition and internally divided and demoralised Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress has a strong chance of winning all the 13 seats from here to contribute to the national kitty. This may not be a huge number, but this will certainly be a substantial number, given the situation Congress is faced with nationally.

IN several parliamentary constituencies the candidates are not to the liking of the local MLAs and ministers. At best they may remain indifferent or lackadaisical in supporting the candidate and at worst they may even be hostile.

For example, in Amristar most of the MLAs and ministers were against renominating the sitting MP Gurjit Singh Aujla. Similarly, in Ferozepur few MLAs and a minister are not in favour of the party candidate Sher Singh Gubaya. There are few more constituencies like Jalandhar, Sangrur and Faridkot, where the party fears that local MLAs may not support the party candidate.

With such potential and prospect of internal sabotage, the Chief Minister obviously was left with no choice but to issue the categorical warning. After all, the overall performance of the party in Punjab will be credited mainly to his leadership.

There are several ‘suspects’ among the ministers and MLAs about whom the party is apprehensive that they may not support the official candidates, even though they may not oppose them. They include Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi in Ferozepur, Vijay Inder Singla in Sangrur, Sukh Sarkaria in Amritsar, besides several MLAs, who will be under the scanner for their role in these elections.

Since Punjab goes to the polls in the last phase, there will be no dearth of the central observers, who will keep a close eye on all the possible suspects and ensure that they not only do not do any damage, but actually work for the party candidates in their respective parliamentary constituencies.