Chandigarh October 27:
Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's appointment as PCC chief is expected to intensify the battle between the party and ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine in a state where fresh assembly polls are just 18 months away.
Singh, often viewed as a lone ranger in state unit of the party, was given the new responsibility ahead of other contenders like union minister Ambika Soni, present incumbent Mohinder Singh Kaypee and party MP Partap Singh Bajwa. It was a second victory of sorts for Amarinder within a short period after the Supreme Court had quashed his expulsion from the state assembly.
Singh was expelled from the state assembly for his alleged involvement in the Amritsar land allotment scandal. In his political career of over two decades, he had served as president of Punjab unit of Congress from 1999 to 2002 and then as chief minister from 2002 to 2007. Singh had been vocal in taking on Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP alliance government for its alleged fiscal mess and "framing" of Congress workers in false cases.
Controversy too had dogged Singh's political career Amarinder, who is also the husband of union minister Preneet Kaur, after his name was linked with a Pakistani journalist Arusa Alam. Political pundits are of the opinion that Singh is the best choice for the post of PCC chief with assembly polls barely a year and half away. Singh, after become chief minister, had pursued strongly charges of corrpution against Parkash Singh Badal and his son and now deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh badal.
Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's appointment as PCC chief is expected to intensify the battle between the party and ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine in a state where fresh assembly polls are just 18 months away.
Singh, often viewed as a lone ranger in state unit of the party, was given the new responsibility ahead of other contenders like union minister Ambika Soni, present incumbent Mohinder Singh Kaypee and party MP Partap Singh Bajwa. It was a second victory of sorts for Amarinder within a short period after the Supreme Court had quashed his expulsion from the state assembly.
Singh was expelled from the state assembly for his alleged involvement in the Amritsar land allotment scandal. In his political career of over two decades, he had served as president of Punjab unit of Congress from 1999 to 2002 and then as chief minister from 2002 to 2007. Singh had been vocal in taking on Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP alliance government for its alleged fiscal mess and "framing" of Congress workers in false cases.
Controversy too had dogged Singh's political career Amarinder, who is also the husband of union minister Preneet Kaur, after his name was linked with a Pakistani journalist Arusa Alam. Political pundits are of the opinion that Singh is the best choice for the post of PCC chief with assembly polls barely a year and half away. Singh, after become chief minister, had pursued strongly charges of corrpution against Parkash Singh Badal and his son and now deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh badal.
