Punjab Polls: Congress Woos Capt Amarinder Singh, Sunil Jakhar for ‘Ghar Wapsi’
Sachin Pilot takes charge amid factional tensions as Rahul Gandhi’s proposed Punjab visit looms
New Delhi: With the Punjab elections closing in, the Congress is trying to pull a BJP in the poll-bound state. After sending feelers to its former leader and chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to quit the BJP and return to the Congress, the party has set its sights on Sunil Jakhar, another saffron functionary who was earlier in the Congress, for a “homecoming”.
Political circles are abuzz that Mr Jakhar is also not averse to switching back his allegiance to his former party. Though there has been no official confirmation, With Sachin Pilot as the new general secretary in charge, the buzz is that many leaders who had left the Congress will be rejoining to strengthen the party. This is also indicative of the fact that the Congress is being seen as the best alternative in Punjab to dislodge the AAP government in the state.
The Congress insiders claim that a senior party leader, who has also served as former chief minister of a North Indian state, close to both Capt. Singh and the party high command, is mediating for the last three months to get the old war horse back in the party. “If Capt. Singh is back in the Congress, Mr Jakhar will also come back,” said a senior leader in the know. Sources say that if Capt. Singh and Mr Jakhar are back in the Congress fold, a "semblance of discipline" will be back in the party.
While the talks about the homecoming of senior Punjab Congress leaders gain ground, all eyes are on the proposed visit of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to the state from the third week of September to launch a unity bus yatra from Amritsar's Golden Temple to project a united face of the party ahead of the Assembly polls.
During his maiden visit to the state as Punjab in-charge, Mr Pilot ensured that the leaders of rival factions -- state unit chief Amarinder Raja Warring and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi -- shared the same stage. Presently, the Punjab Congress is dealing with serious infighting. Differences within the state unit have persisted since Mr Warring was retained as Punjab Congress chief, with some leaders, including Mr Channi, publicly signalling their dissatisfaction.