New Delhi, May 28
Barely five months after they decided to put aside their differences, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal are back at battling each other.
They have publicly blamed each other for the poor performance of the Congress in the recent elections. The two today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi separately to present her their side of story. Though neither is saying so on record, Mrs Bhattal is learnt to have reiterated her demand for a leadership change while the Chief Minister is reported to have sought firm action against dissidents in the state Congress.
Capt Amarinder Singh said he met Mrs Gandhi to discuss his report on the reasons for the Punjab election results which he had submitted on May 14. Although he did not divulge the contents of his 30-page report, Capt Amarinder Singh said he took responsibility for the results but this did mean that he would step down.
"I will not put in my papers.... I am not the kind to turn my back. I don't show my back and run off on a holiday," he declared emphatically after his meeting with the Congress President. He said they might have lost the battle but they would go ahead to win the war. With three Assembly byelections due in the state later this year, the Chief Minister said they would start working for these elections.
The Chief Minister also denied the Congress had lost because of widespread anti-incumbency or divisions in the state unit. While maintaining that the state party unit was not in disarray and that it had fought united, he admitted that the earlier show of infighting had demoralised the party workers. "One person is not strong enough to ensure the party's defeat in 11 seats," he added.
He said he had set up a committee under the chairmanship of former minister Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder to look into the reasons for the party's dismal show in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Chief Minister's camp followers, however, maintained that Mrs Bhattal had campaigned against the official candidates with the deliberate intent to ensure the party's defeat. They pointed out that the party lost in her own constituency, which had weakened her case and credibility.
On the other hand, Mrs Bhattal has put the blame squarely on the Chief Minister. She has stepped up her demand for a leadership change, pointing out that had the AICC leadership heeded to her warning six months ago, the party would not have fared so poorly.
For the record, however, Mrs Bhattal said it was for the party high command to decide on leadership change. "The party leadership is aware of the reasons for the defeat in these elections," she said, adding that she had placed her viewpoint before the Congress President.
Party insiders maintained the legislators were keeping a low profile in view of the July 2 deadline when the ministry strength had to be reduced by eight. In such a situation, Mrs Bhattal could also find herself in a vulnerable position, it was stated.
While admitting that stern action needed to be taken to stamp out dissidence in all state units, AICC sources said the Congress President would take a final view on this matter after consultations with other state leaders.
