The Congress was caught in a massive political crossfire today as top leaders of its faction-ridden Punjab unit sparred openly, rebuking each other, in what the party described as "unfortunate and harmful to Congress interests".
The party leadership ordered restraint as Punjab Congress president Partap Bajwa openly accused Capt Amarinder Singh, his bete noire, of attempting to stage a coup by way of vertical split in state Congress ahead of the 2017 Assembly poll and eventual formation of his own party.
As Bajwa "warned the Congress leadership of Capt doing a Bhajan Lal on the party if given a role in state organisation", Capt hit back dismissing Bajwa's accusations as "schizophrenic symptoms of a failed and frustrated man desperate about his own political survival."
Bajwa told The Tribune today: "After Bihar poll results which pollsters say the BJP will win, Captain will form his Punjab Vikas Party. The BJP will split from Akalis. Captain will then pullback some legislators he has loaned to the Akalis, bringing Akalis into minority in the state Assembly. The BJP will then impose President's Rule in Punjab, rule by proxy until October next before declaring elections".
‘Talk of split unfortunate’
“These comments by senior leaders are unfortunate and harmful to the party. We have asked both leaders to exercise restraint,” Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmed told TNS, adding that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had “taken note of these developments”. Sonia called Shakeel Ahmed for a meeting this evening.
