Capt trumps party on poll campaign

The programme is already plagued by controversy. The Punjab Congress today announced to put off the event, but Capt Amarinder Singh, who is chairman of the Election Campaign Committee, wasted no time deciding against it.

Singh8217;s loyalist and Congress MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh said, 8220;The programme will continue as per schedule. Amarinder Singh will lead the event and meet grassroots workers to get their feedback ahead of the elections.8221;

The disconnect between the top leaders of the state Congress over this issue, among many others, is set to unfold yet another bout of bickering between them. For the record, the official reason being cited by the party to put off campaigning in the state is the ensuing Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, where Punjab leaders have been assigned campaigning tasks. However, sources close to Capt Amarinder Singh accuse Rajinder Kaur Bhattal of attempting to torpedo Capt8217;s plans, something which Bhattal vehemently denies. Now that Capt8217;s programme will continue, the only change will be that top leaders, including Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mohinder Singh Kaypee, will be missing it. Ashwani Sekhri, convener of the election campaign committee, will, however, accompany Amarinder Singh, said sources.

Capt8217;s loyalists rubbish the reasoning to put off the programme. One said, 8220;Amarinder Singh is scheduled to campaign in J038;K on December 13 and 14. By then this programme would have finished.8221;

Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira also said the programme goes as per schedule. 8220;The campaign team will be in Hoshiarpur on December 11. We are making all arrangements for it,8221; he said.

Raj Pal Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Congress, said, 8220;The programme has been postponed as the Congress high command had deputed senior leaders, including Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Capt Amarinder Singh, Ashwani Sekhri, Prof Darbari Lal and Sardool Singh, for campaigning in J038;K.8221;

Bhattal8217;s loyalists say, 8220;It is wrong to accuse her for this change of plan. She was not instrumental in making the plan, nor has a role in scuttling it.8221;

Caught between the tug-of-war between the two Congress stalwarts is Punjab Congress president Mohinder Singh Kaypee, who has been trying to smooth things down. Sources said Kaypee decided to put off the event after he received directions over phone from a senior AICC leader in New Delhi last evening. In fact, Amarinder got around Kaypee and several other Congress leaders before he decided on this first election campaign programme as chairman of the committee.

Kaypee could not be contacted for his comments.