CHANDIGARH: Demand to “Replace” Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, just months before Assembly polls, gained momentum again with the 34 “annoying” lawmakers in Congress, made up of four cabinet ministers , who decided on Tuesday to unveil the top command of widespread dissent among party ranks.
They were categorically clear in saying after the closed-door meeting that it was time for the party to opt for a change of guard before the polls.
“Changing the CM is the prerogative of the party’s high command. But we have lost faith in it,” Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi told ministers here.
He said lawmakers unanimously authorized a five-member committee to inform party chairwoman Sonia Gandhi as soon as possible about the dissent of party workers over breaching the promises of the government poll.
The five-member committee is cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who supported the head of state unit Navjot Singh Sidhu in the recent power struggle, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Channi and Pargat Singh, considered close and Sidhu.
Channi criticized the chief minister and his aides for the unfulfilled promises of the inquiry, in particular the delay in the 2015 sacrilege action and the police shooting cases.
He said the group will seek time in the high command of Congress to hear the complaints of lawmakers and ministers, otherwise it will be difficult for the party to repeat in the Punjab.
He said MPs raised several issues, including the existence of sand mafias, drugs, cable and transport.
In addition, the issue of sacrilege and subsequent police shooting cases has not only upset party cadres, but has also hurt the common man’s religious sentiments. They also said the government has not fulfilled the promised action against drug traffickers.
Joining the choir, Randhawa said they carried the best wallets. “But it doesn’t bother us to lose portfolios. Our concern is that the survey promises justice to Bargari and dismissing the defective energy purchase agreements have not been fulfilled so far.”
Interestingly, quarrels within the party came to light just a day before Harish Rawat’s visit to Chandigarh, head of state affairs, over the growing “war of words” between Amarinder Singh and state president Sidhu.
They were categorically clear in saying after the closed-door meeting that it was time for the party to opt for a change of guard before the polls.
“Changing the CM is the prerogative of the party’s high command. But we have lost faith in it,” Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi told ministers here.
He said lawmakers unanimously authorized a five-member committee to inform party chairwoman Sonia Gandhi as soon as possible about the dissent of party workers over breaching the promises of the government poll.
The five-member committee is cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who supported the head of state unit Navjot Singh Sidhu in the recent power struggle, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Channi and Pargat Singh, considered close and Sidhu.
Channi criticized the chief minister and his aides for the unfulfilled promises of the inquiry, in particular the delay in the 2015 sacrilege action and the police shooting cases.
He said the group will seek time in the high command of Congress to hear the complaints of lawmakers and ministers, otherwise it will be difficult for the party to repeat in the Punjab.
He said MPs raised several issues, including the existence of sand mafias, drugs, cable and transport.
In addition, the issue of sacrilege and subsequent police shooting cases has not only upset party cadres, but has also hurt the common man’s religious sentiments. They also said the government has not fulfilled the promised action against drug traffickers.
Joining the choir, Randhawa said they carried the best wallets. “But it doesn’t bother us to lose portfolios. Our concern is that the survey promises justice to Bargari and dismissing the defective energy purchase agreements have not been fulfilled so far.”
Interestingly, quarrels within the party came to light just a day before Harish Rawat’s visit to Chandigarh, head of state affairs, over the growing “war of words” between Amarinder Singh and state president Sidhu.