Punjab CM reaches out to disgruntled leaders

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5

Wary of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s move to poach disgruntled party MLAs and former ministers denied berth in the recent Cabinet expansion, CM Charanjit Singh Channi has stepped up efforts to mollify them.

Wary of Capt move

• The Channi camp is wary of the fact that some party MLAs are in touch with ex-CM Capt Amarinder Singh
• The former CM is learnt to have hosted a lunch for close associates, including some party MLAs, on Monday

Late last evening, Channi and Finance Minister Manpreet Badal called on former Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu in a bid to placate him. He along with former Revenue Minister Gurpreet Kangar had openly expressed annoyance over being denied a Cabinet berth, when other ministers were re-inducted. It could not be ascertained whether AICC observer Harish Chaudhary accompanied Channi to Balbir’s house.

Party sources said the Channi camp sprung into action after getting reports that some of the party MLAs — who do not see any future prospects in the party with Channi in the saddle — were in touch with Captain Amarinder. The former CM is learnt to have hosted a lunch for close associates, including some party MLAs, yesterday.

At a silent protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s bust at Gandhi Smarak Bhawan here today, former minister Kangar and Qadian MLA Fatehjang Singh Bajwa were also seen. In the past few days, MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, who had earlier been supporting Capt Amarinder against Navjot Sidhu, has been seen regularly with Channi recently.

In the evening, Channi flew with Bittu and PCC working president Kuljit Nagra in a private jet to Delhi, giving rise to speculation of both leaders vying for the post of PCC chief in the event of the party high command accepting Sidhu’s resignation. Bittu and Nagra later flew back to Chandigarh around 9 pm. The travel with the CM has raised many an eyebrow.

Rajya Sabha MP Partap Bajwa met Channi at Kapurthala House in Delhi on the CM’s invite.

A senior AICC leader, however, denied reports of Sidhu’s resignation having been accepted. Channi, who met Home Minister Amit Shah, was accompanied by Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari and Principal Secretary to CM Hussan Lal. Chaudhary, who has been camping in the city, has been interacting with party MLAs to ensure the party’s flock remains together.