The infighting in Congress in Punjab came out in the open on Friday with senior leader and Union Minister Ambika Soni disapproving the outbursts of former CM Amarinder Singh against PCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in public on Thursday. Speaking at the party’s political conference at Anandpur Sahib, Soni said the former CM should not have spoken in public against Bhattal. “Whatever he said was wrong,” she said, adding that he should speak at the party platform.Sidelined since the defeat of the Congress in the Assembly elections, Amarinder on Thursday had lashed out at the state party leadership.Questioning the party’s decision to support an Akali resolution for postponement of the panchayat elections in Punjab, Amarinder minced no words, in the process laying bare the differences within the state leadership. “The SAD-BJP Government wanted to postpone the panchayat elections after sensing its defeat, and the state Congress leadership helped the Government in its designs. It is evident who did it and to favour whom,” he said. Though Amarinder did not name any particular leader, it was evident that the target of his ire was Bhattal, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. Taking on Bhattal more directly, Amarinder said: “State Congress chief’s brother Kuldip Singh Bhattal had reportedly said there should be a common minimum programme for the Congress and Akali Dal. How can it be possible? We are arch political rivals. Can such an understanding take place between the Congress and BJP at the national level?”Saying that he had been quiet the past one year “as the high command had desired that the state unit of the party should settle down and start functioning”, Amarinder said: “I am shocked to see that the party workers at the grassroot level are being harassed by the ruling Akali Dal. On the other hand, senior Congress leaders are participating in social events with the Akalis. Cricket matches are being played between both the parties.”The former CM added that the general election may be announced this year. “If the panchayat elections had been held on time, the morale of our workers would have been up and they would have been ready to take on the Akalis in the Lok Sabha elections,” he reasoned.On Friday, Bhattal referred to Amarinder’s attack on her and said she did not need any certificate from anyone. “As the Leader of the Opposition and state unit president, I am competent to take decisions in consultation with party leaders,” she said.All the decisions, including the one to support a resolution in the state Assembly seeking postponement of panchayat elections, had been taken in the interests of the party, she said. Bhattal refuted Amarinder’s charge that she was hand-in-glove with ruling Akali Dal.Bhattal supporters have charged Amarinder with running away from the scene since he has attended only two sessions of the Assembly — once for taking oath as a member and the second time for speaking on the Governor’s address — since he was routed out of power.Meanwhile, the Captain announced that he would start touring Punjab from Baisakhi to rejuvenate the party. He claimed that party’s Punjab in-charge, Margaret Alva, had told him to conduct the tour.
