Aam aadmi the focus, Capt Amarinder Singh to shed royal tag

Forever associated with his aristocratic background, Amarinder, a member of the Patiala royal family, is all set to sport a new avatar: of a tireless, accessible ‘Punjab da Captain’, more amid his workers as opposed to his ‘coterie’.

2017 Assembly elections, punjab election, 2017 Assembly elections, congress, Punjab Da Captain, PPCC, punjab congress, chandigarh news

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh

OFTEN ACCUSED of being laidback, inaccessible, and of being surrounded by a coterie, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh is all set for a makeover ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections.

Forever associated with his aristocratic background, Amarinder, a member of the Patiala royal family, is all set to sport a new avatar: of a tireless, accessible ‘Punjab da Captain’, more amid his workers as opposed to his ‘coterie’.

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The image makeover is part of the changes being brought in by Congress strategist, Prashant Kishor, who while coining the title, ‘Punjab da Captain’, wants Amarinder’s political rivals to have little ammunition to attack him with. And the changes have already been set in motion.

It has conveyed to Congress leaders in the districts that Amarinder is no longer to be addressed as ‘Maharaja Sahib’. “None of the party’s billboards would project him as a royal. No other material supplied by the party would point towards his royal background. It has become a baggage when the focus is on the aam admi,” said a Congress leader.

On Tuesday, the Punjab Congress president hit the road early, met up with party workers, before reaching Gurdaspur at noon, where he addressed a meeting. He will return to Chandigarh only on Thursday with Kishor by his side.

Amarinder is set to address four such meetings over the next three days. Having visited Gurdaspur and Ajnala on Tuesday, the Congress president will be in Amritsar on Wednesday before rounding off the first leg of his district-level meetings at Hoshiarpur on March 31.

“The district-level meetings, aimed at covering the entire state in 22 days, are an effort towards building confidence among party workers. The meetings are Captain-centric. It is Amarinder among workers and not him just confined to his office. He will effectively be on the roads in the coming days, starting his day early with no coterie around,” said a leader, summing up Kishor’s strategy for him in the coming days.

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The strategist has also set up initiatives to woo the state’s youth, an important demographic ahead of the Assembly elections. A Facebook profile, Punjab Da Captain, has been created and it has so far garnered 58,027 likes. The page had on Monday rolled out a paragraph writing contest, inviting youth to write a brief piece on ‘mere supneyan da Punjab (the Punjab of their dreams), with the winners being promised attractive prizes.

Kishor’s team has also scheduled a ‘Coffee with Captain’ programme, akin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Chai pe Charcha, at Amritsar on Wednesday, which it says is an interactive session designed to engage 500 youth at a time.

“The entry would be through prior registration and invitations. Any college-goer, who has either registered with us or has been invited by college captains, will be allowed entry. They would be encouraged to ask questions to Amarinder,” said Arjun Dutta.

A similar Coffee with Captain session is being organised in Chandigarh on April 1 and Dutta said similar sessions will be held in Ludhiana and Patiala.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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Punjab election