Chandigarh, March 17
A revolt has broken out in the Punjab Congress over the nomination of former Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill for a Rajya Sabha seat from the state. Mr Gill’s nomination papers were found in order today.
At today’s meeting of district Presidents and other office-bearers of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) at Congress Bhavan here, various speakers not only openly criticised the nomination of Mr Gill but also threatened to resign their offices in case the party high command did not review its decision immediately.
Many of them also raised slogans against Mr Gill at the meeting. The media was not allowed access to the meeting.
Sources said there was so much anger against the nomination of Mr Gill that many office-bearers made it clear that they would not campaign in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
A representation signed by a number of district Presidents has been sent to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, requesting her to withdraw Mr Gill’s name.
AICC Secretary Anita Verma, who was present, had a difficult time pacifying district Presidents and other leaders. She assured them that their sentiments would be conveyed to the party high command.
The meeting was called to prepare a strategy for the Lok Sabha elections.
However, it turned out to be a platform for many office-bearers to air their grievances owing to the Gill factor. Most office-bearers, especially district Presidents, were in a fiery mood. “While real party workers have been ignored, candidates have been imposed from the top of. “What use is to work for the party,” said a senior leader, who has been member of the party for the past 25 years.
“We would have been happy had any Congress leader from the state made a candidate. Mr Gill is not even a primary member of the party”, said another senior leader.
Congress leaders alleged at the meeting that Mr Gill had worked for the defeat of the Congress in the 1997 Assembly elections. He did not allow the then Congress Chief Minister,
Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, to implement certain public welfare measures.
PPCC President H.S. Hanspal said Ms Anita Verma had heard the views of party leaders at the meeting. He refused to make any other comment.
Though the Bhattal and Amarinder camps are both unhappy over the nomination of Mr Gill, they are not ready to say anything on record because of Mr Gill’s proximity to the Gandhi family.
Reports are that Mr Gill has been advising
Ms Sonia Gandhi on many political issues for the past few months. Top Congress sources said when the rift
between Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Capt Amarinder Singh became an unending affair last year, Mrs Sonia Gandhi had mentioned the name of Mr Gill to replace Capt Amarinder Singh.
