Cong reshuffle: Party to rely on young blood in Majha

While two sitting MLAs — Om Parkash Soni and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria — in Amritsar had their way as they were able to induct most of their candidates into the party,Tarn Taran district president of the party Sukhdev Singh Shahbazpuri was shown the doors,leading to many speculations of an old horse vying to raise the banner of revolt. He perhaps was piped by the ever rising influential industrialist Gurjit Singh Rana in the region.

Much like him,former MLA from Amritsar (south) H S Thekedar,district Congress committee (DCC) Amritsar (urban) chief Yogendera Dhinga,Gurjeet Aujla and Punjab mahilla Congress chief Ratna are left out. DCC Amritsar (rural) chief S J S Lally Majithia who had been maintaining closeness to both Captain Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had also been able to sail smooth despite the many challenges and the hiccups.

The youth brigades led by former National Youth Congress head Jasbir Singh Dimpa had made their presence felt like never before. Former MLAs including Harpartap Singh Ajnala,Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa,Ashwani Shekhrai,Raman Behal and Sawinder Singh Kathunangal had made their entry with flying colours. The other young faces including Harpal Singh Bhatia,Navdeep Singh Goldy,R S Rintu,Mamta Gulati,Pardeep Chopra,Fatehjung Singh Bajwa had entered into the party’s fold.

The lost faces include Inderjit Basarke,Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwadi,Ravinder Sharma and Bittu Gumtala who failed for sailing into the two boats as they could not ascertain the internal party strife that cost them dear. Insiders say that despite the disgruntled elements the balance had been strike and new power centres of youth brigade would strengthen the party’s base in the politically volatile Majha region.

The other pointer given during the selection of the candidates give some indications for the candidates to be fielded in the next Assembly elections,too,which is though one and half year away.

While Lally Majithia had been kept in his home constituency of Majitha,Dimpa has been selected from Khadur Sahib,though to strike the balance. Most of the candidates also have their rival camps candidates as their colleagues in the party structure from each of the assembly constituency.

The other trend noted is that powerful party leaders including Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa,Dimpa,Harpartap Ajnala,Sarkaria,Sukhjinder Randhawa had either their wives or mothers inducted into the party structure,while many of the mahilla Congress leaders including their chief are ousted. This again is being seen as an attempt to make senior leaders happy to strengthen the party.

“There are celebrations and remorse,too,in the party but still seeing that the attempts had been made to unite the party at all levels,all seems well though some surprises are here to see for many senior leaders,” said a senior leader requesting anonymity.