NEW DELHI: The ongoing conflict between the factions of Punjab’s chief minister, Amarinder Singh, and the president of the state congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu, seems to be a grave reminder of the struggles the party had witnessed before the elections. 1997 assembly.
The dissent in the Punjab Congress in 1996 was at its peak during the ministry of Harcharan Singh Brar. Assembly elections were held on February 7, 1997. The party’s state unit was scheduled to begin its campaign on November 20, 1996.
However, on November 20, 1996, less than three months before the election to the assembly, the high command of Congress replaced Harcharan Singh Brar with Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the first and only female head minister. of the Punjab which has remained in the presidency for only 82 days, the shortest period of any CM in the state.
As against Brar, Bhattal was believed to be an aggressive leader who had taken a tough stance against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Amarinder Singh and Sidhu bear a close resemblance to Brar and Bhattal respectively.
However, Congress lost miserably in the 1997 Assembly election. Of the total 117 seats in the assembly, the party contested 105 seats, but won only 14 seats.
On the other hand, SAD won 75 and its then alliance partner BJP won in 18 seats. Together they formed the government with Parkash Singh Badal as CM. The SAD-BJP government lasted its full five-year term.
Even in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, Congress won only two of the 13 seats it contested.
It may be a time of deja vu for the Punjab Congress. He is currently witnessing the same situation since Sidhu faced Amarinder Singh.
With his good will with the Nehru-Gandhis, Sidhu got a meeting convened to carry out the review of the state government under Amarinder Singh. The meetings examined the work done and the broken promises of the 2017 party assembly election manifesto.
Sidhu also got his way by being appointed chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). Congress leaders could have hoped it would end the bitter struggle between him and Amarinder Singh. Internal struggles have increased.
The latest trigger was some controversial comments about two advisers – Malwinder Singh Mali and Dr Pyare Lal Garg – from Sidhu, on Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
While Garg questioned Punjab Amarinder Singh’s criticism of Pakistan, Mali made a controversial comment about Kashmir. Mali also posted a nasty poster of Indira Gandhi on social media.
The two advisers were assassinated by many Congress leaders, including Amarinder Singh and Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari. After that, Sidhu summoned his advisers.
In addition, the top leader of the PPCC, Harish Rawat, hinted that action would be taken against the two advisers if the allegations against them were correct.
In retaliation, four ministers and 26 deputies called for the removal of Amarinder Singh as CM. On the other hand, another faction of CEOs pledged their support to the CM.
A delegation of some Punjab ministers and MPs met on Wednesday with Harish Rawat in Dehradun to press for the removal of Amarinder Singh as CM. The demand comes just six months before the state assembly elections.
After meeting with the delegation of ministers and MP, Harish Rawat said the party would contest the 2022 state assembly elections under the leadership of Amarinder Singh.
Although Harish Rawat made it clear that there would be no change in leadership, it is likely that a dissident delegation will fulfill high command to demand the removal of Amarinder Singh from office.
The events seem to repeat the events that took place in the Punjab Congress before the 1997 State Assembly elections.
The dissent in the Punjab Congress in 1996 was at its peak during the ministry of Harcharan Singh Brar. Assembly elections were held on February 7, 1997. The party’s state unit was scheduled to begin its campaign on November 20, 1996.
However, on November 20, 1996, less than three months before the election to the assembly, the high command of Congress replaced Harcharan Singh Brar with Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the first and only female head minister. of the Punjab which has remained in the presidency for only 82 days, the shortest period of any CM in the state.
As against Brar, Bhattal was believed to be an aggressive leader who had taken a tough stance against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Amarinder Singh and Sidhu bear a close resemblance to Brar and Bhattal respectively.
However, Congress lost miserably in the 1997 Assembly election. Of the total 117 seats in the assembly, the party contested 105 seats, but won only 14 seats.
On the other hand, SAD won 75 and its then alliance partner BJP won in 18 seats. Together they formed the government with Parkash Singh Badal as CM. The SAD-BJP government lasted its full five-year term.
Even in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, Congress won only two of the 13 seats it contested.
It may be a time of deja vu for the Punjab Congress. He is currently witnessing the same situation since Sidhu faced Amarinder Singh.
With his good will with the Nehru-Gandhis, Sidhu got a meeting convened to carry out the review of the state government under Amarinder Singh. The meetings examined the work done and the broken promises of the 2017 party assembly election manifesto.
Sidhu also got his way by being appointed chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). Congress leaders could have hoped it would end the bitter struggle between him and Amarinder Singh. Internal struggles have increased.
The latest trigger was some controversial comments about two advisers – Malwinder Singh Mali and Dr Pyare Lal Garg – from Sidhu, on Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
While Garg questioned Punjab Amarinder Singh’s criticism of Pakistan, Mali made a controversial comment about Kashmir. Mali also posted a nasty poster of Indira Gandhi on social media.
The two advisers were assassinated by many Congress leaders, including Amarinder Singh and Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari. After that, Sidhu summoned his advisers.
In addition, the top leader of the PPCC, Harish Rawat, hinted that action would be taken against the two advisers if the allegations against them were correct.
In retaliation, four ministers and 26 deputies called for the removal of Amarinder Singh as CM. On the other hand, another faction of CEOs pledged their support to the CM.
A delegation of some Punjab ministers and MPs met on Wednesday with Harish Rawat in Dehradun to press for the removal of Amarinder Singh as CM. The demand comes just six months before the state assembly elections.
After meeting with the delegation of ministers and MP, Harish Rawat said the party would contest the 2022 state assembly elections under the leadership of Amarinder Singh.
Although Harish Rawat made it clear that there would be no change in leadership, it is likely that a dissident delegation will fulfill high command to demand the removal of Amarinder Singh from office.
The events seem to repeat the events that took place in the Punjab Congress before the 1997 State Assembly elections.