Cong leaders question delay in appointment of halqa in-charges

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 1
Several Congress leaders, part of pressure group, have questioned the state leadership over delay in appointing halqa in-charges in 20 of the 117 Assembly segments.
The leaders added that “effective” halqa in-charges were missing in more than 40 segments. Seeking introspection, the leaders pointed out that the party had no halqa in-charge in Jalandhar West Assembly segment, which saw bypoll on July 10. They said during the Lok Sabha elections, five out of nine segments didn’t had a halqa in-charge in the Sangrur parliamentary constituency.
Pradesh Congress Committee chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, “Block presidents and district presidents are working on the ground. Those best among them will be appointed as constituency in-charges.”
The byelections to Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Barnala and Gidderbaha Assembly segments are expected in October, but there’s no halqa in-charge in Chabbewal after Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal left the Congress to join AAP. In Barnala Assembly segment, Manish Bansal, son of Congress leader Pawan Bansal, has been hardly visible. In the last few weeks, the pressure group has held meetings on how to strengthen the party. “Instead of appointing halqa in-charges, the top leadership is busy in political one-upmanship,” said a former minister on condition of anonymity. “Some leaders have been expelled, suspended or have left the party to join AAP and the BJP. There is a need to prepare a roadmap to take on the BJP, which has eaten into the Congress’ vote bank in urban areas,” said another leader.
The segments that do not have halqa-in charges include Batala, Majitha, Attari, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Bassi Pathana, Atam Nagar, Bagha Purana, Abohar, Bathinda, Mansa, Dirba, Badhaur, Mehalkalan, Phillaur and Dhuri.