Captain loyalist stays away from his campaign

Arvind did not even turn up once nor offered his chopper or aircraft for the campaign, causing murmurs in Amarinder’s camp.

Times change and so do people. Nobody has realised this better than former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh. He hit a low when the Congress lost the 2012 Assembly elections in Punjab, yet another when he was removed as the state party chief last year.

He has been a quiet witness to his people switching loyalties. But the worst came when his close confidant and the virtual driver of his last campaign, Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna, stayed away from the Lok Sabha polls, as Amarinder slogged it out in the high-stakes battle of Amritsar.

Arvind, a businessman by profession, did not even turn up once nor offered his chopper or aircraft for the campaign, causing murmurs in Amarinder’s camp. The scion of the erstwhile state of Patiala, Amarinder, had invited the wrath of his friends and supporters in the past owing to his perceived closeness to Arvind.

During the Punjab Bachao Yatra prior to the 2012 elections, Amarinder was flown personally by Arvind in his chopper wherever he had to address a rally. Even during the election, he was seen driving him to various parts of the state. Arvind, who is distantly related to Amarinder, was accordingly given appropriate importance in the party, having been appointed secretary incharge of the Pradesh Congress office when the latter was the PPCC chief. Whenever he visited Chandigarh, Amarinder always stayed at Arvind’s Sector 10 house.

But this time, Arvind did not even come for a day. He stayed away from the state during the entire election season and camped in Delhi where he runs his businesses. With him remaining absent from his constituency of Sangrur, Congress nominee Vijya Inder Singla had even complained to the party high command. The Congress campaign committee also gave an ultimatum to absentee MLAs, most of who returned to canvass for the party, but Arvind stayed away.

Sources close to Amarinder said he was quiet on the issue. “He has never discussed this but the fact remains that Arvind was not there when Amarinder needed him the most. He did not even offer his chopper. It is sad,” said a source. While Arvind was not available for comments, sources close to him said he was disillusioned with the state of affairs in Punjab Congress.

With Partap Singh Bajwa at the helm of affairs, Arvind was completely sidelined. “Thankfully, he did not switch sides and join Akalis. It is only because he did not want it to reflect on Amarinder. How can you say he is deserted Captain?” asked a closed aide of Arvind.

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Sources added that he did not offer him his chopper because Amarinder, being a star campaigner of the party, was provided a chopper by the Congress high command. But the former chief minister’s loyalists quote the example of Rajasansi MLA Sukh Sarkaria, who was reportedly on the verge of joining SAD when Amarinder’s candidature was announced from Amritsar. “Though he was unhappy, he dropped the idea of switching over because he said Amarinder needed him the most,” said a source.

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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