Facing criticism from within and outside the party for the SGPC fiasco, the Congress is on a damage control exercise. Though an administrative reshuffle was expected earlier, a police reshuffle may be on the anvil. Since the operation to arrest Akali workers was planned by the DGP along with IG (Security) Rajinder Singh, some of the flak targetted at the government may be diverted to the police.The attempt to counter the criticism has begun. Today, PWD Minister Partap Singh Bajwa, an Amarinder loyalist, supported the Chief Minister, saying it was due to his efforts that the elections were peaceful. Accusing Badal of indulging in a false propaganda against the Congress, Bajwa said the appointment of Central observers had set a wrong precedent.Another statement complimenting the CM came, this one from Rajinder Kaur of the labour and employment cell of the PPCC. This should help in countering the attacks made by senior leaders such as Umrao Singh, who thanked Sonia Gandhi today for intervening and preventing a full-scale confrontation between the police and the Akali Dal at the Golden Temple Complex.The offer of chairmanships of Boards and Corporations which is due is now a political weapon in the hands of the Chief Minister to woo more MLAs and party leaders. Since dissidents are known to be seeking a greater share in power than anything else, this is the carrot which Amarinder could dangle before the MLAs.A search for a new chief secretary has begun. Y.S. Ratra is already tipped to be the chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board after he retires in January. Though the posting is not related to the recent developments, sources said the government is planning to expedite the process so that the new candidate settles down fast. In such a situation, Sudhir Mittal, present chairman, may be brought to the Chief Minister’s Office to assist S.K. Sinha, Principal Secretary to the CM.
