Chandigarh September 20:
Aping developments in neighbouring states, the newly appointed delegates of the Punjab Congress threw democratic norms to the winds and empowered the party’s national President, Sonia Gandhi, to take a decision to appoint the President of the PPCC.
The delegates, who had gathered here today, adopted a one-line resolution moved by party president Mohinder Singh Kaypee unanimously. A senior party leader, who did not wish to be quoted, said, “With so many aspirants for the position, electing one through a ballot was an almost impossible task, so to it was decided in advance that the Punjab Congress would adopt a pattern similar to the neighbouring states in leaving the decision to Sonia ji.”
The meeting of the delegates moved along expected lines with the party president Kaypee moving a resolution, lauding the leadership of Sonia and expressing full faith in her capability as a leader running the party for the fourth term. He further said that the issue of appointing a state party chief should be left to the party national President. This was supported by Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and the former Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.
After Jagmeet Brar asked the delegates if they were with him as he, too, supported the resolution, all delegates raised their hands in support. Before the appointment of the delegates, the Congress high command had announced that the presidents in all the states would be elected by the newly appointed delegates.
By empowering Sonia, the delegates have undermined the core principle of democratic functioning of the party. The INC that led the nation through the freedom struggle built its foundation on the principles of democracy and equal voice for all. But today’s move to leave the decision to one person with the cadres having no say in the matter suggests that the party has moved away from its core principles.
Capt Amarinder Singh, however, defended the move by saying “the entire nation from Kashmir downwards is passing through difficult times. Sonia ji is doing a good job in managing things, and the states must strengthen her hands by letting her choose her team”.
Aping developments in neighbouring states, the newly appointed delegates of the Punjab Congress threw democratic norms to the winds and empowered the party’s national President, Sonia Gandhi, to take a decision to appoint the President of the PPCC.
The delegates, who had gathered here today, adopted a one-line resolution moved by party president Mohinder Singh Kaypee unanimously. A senior party leader, who did not wish to be quoted, said, “With so many aspirants for the position, electing one through a ballot was an almost impossible task, so to it was decided in advance that the Punjab Congress would adopt a pattern similar to the neighbouring states in leaving the decision to Sonia ji.”
The meeting of the delegates moved along expected lines with the party president Kaypee moving a resolution, lauding the leadership of Sonia and expressing full faith in her capability as a leader running the party for the fourth term. He further said that the issue of appointing a state party chief should be left to the party national President. This was supported by Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and the former Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.
After Jagmeet Brar asked the delegates if they were with him as he, too, supported the resolution, all delegates raised their hands in support. Before the appointment of the delegates, the Congress high command had announced that the presidents in all the states would be elected by the newly appointed delegates.
By empowering Sonia, the delegates have undermined the core principle of democratic functioning of the party. The INC that led the nation through the freedom struggle built its foundation on the principles of democracy and equal voice for all. But today’s move to leave the decision to one person with the cadres having no say in the matter suggests that the party has moved away from its core principles.
Capt Amarinder Singh, however, defended the move by saying “the entire nation from Kashmir downwards is passing through difficult times. Sonia ji is doing a good job in managing things, and the states must strengthen her hands by letting her choose her team”.
