Congress aims to tone up its Punjab unit

The resignations of Punjab Congress chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and state Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar from their posts are to be seen against the backdrop of a series of consultations Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had held with Congress leaders over the past few months on how best to tone up the organisation in Punjab where its prospects appeared bright.

The Congress is optimistic of defeating the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine which faces a 10-year anti-incumbency factor.

Last week Mr Gandhi had led a delegation of party leaders from Punjab, including Capt. Singh and Mr Bajwa, to President Pranab Mukherjee to project unity in the state unit. Capt. Singh and Mr Bajwa have been at loggerheads for long.

In the last Assembly polls, Mr Gandhi had projected Capt. Amarinder Singh as the chief ministerial candidate. However, the party failed to succeed in the polls with AICC later putting the loss down to the “overconfidence” of Capt. Singh.

The Punjab, Assam and Kerala elections will be crucial for the Congress as they could set the tone for the UP, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh polls against the BJP.