In an effort to make a midway course correction, the Congress high command has appointed Sachin Pilot as the general secretary in charge of Punjab, ahead of the Assembly polls. Pilot replaces former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who proved to be a complete disaster in ending pronounced factionalism in the state unit, and has now for some odd reason, been sent to Assam.
Pilot’s arrival on the scene has instilled some hope in party-men, who are aware of his immense potential in galvanizing workers and organizing things. Nevertheless, it is certainly not going to be an easy task to make the Congress re-emerge as the principal challenger to the Aam Aadmi Party, which of late, has also been having its own share of problems, though it continues to be in the pole position, as of now.
Pilot’s appointment also implies that the high command may shortly be replacing the PCC chief whose tenure has been both controversial and detrimental to party unity. Politically speaking, it would make little sense in replacing the general secretary in-charge, but allowing the PCC president to continue. Therefore, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s days as the chief may be numbered.
The enormous task before Pilot is to first ensure that factionalism is contained and when Rahul Gandhi visits the state, the party presents itself as a united force to take on its adversaries. For achieving his goal, Pilot, who was once in line to being made the Rajasthan Chief Minister, has started holding back-to-back meetings with all prominent leaders.
He has been trying to understand the various complexities involved in order to put the party back in top position of taking on AAP and others. It is also common knowledge that if the Congress cannot wrest Punjab, it shall find it difficult to keep its head above water, given that its position in other poll going states is not very sound. Punjab is one place where the Congress can return to power if it plays its cards properly.
Pilot would have to take a call and advise the high command in recommending a suitable replacement for Raja Warring and perhaps also take a call on whether Pratap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition, should also be replaced. With time running out, the new replacements cannot be from those who are viewed as neutral in the background of acute factionalism, but those who can take up their position and start firing in order to deliver.
While it is for the Congress high command to decide who would be the new generals, Sukhpal Khaira, Pargat Singh and Rana Gurjeet Singh could be considered for the party president’s position. The need of the hour is not to be caught up in caste balancing and equations, but to pick up those who have been fighting and showing results on the ground.
Many would have thought that a Hindu face would have been good for the party’s prospects, but with Manish Tewari not in the reckoning due to certain people not liking him amongst top leaders, appointing Vijay Inder Singla as the president would not serve any purpose, since he is mostly absent from state politics.
Pilot, while advising the high command, has to also see that Congress functionaries sent from the Centre to Punjab to do party work, should be from those who are conversant with state politics and are also familiar with the Punjabi language. In this context, the three secretaries given charge of Malwa, Doaba and Majha, the three regions, may also get replaced as would many others.
The party had made a bad beginning and its preparations were found to be wanting and without any concrete logic. Thus, there could be reconsideration and from Delhi, for instance, leaders such as Subhash Chopra, Shiv Bhatia, Jitender Kochar, Ramesh Sabharwal amongst others could be involved in Operation Punjab since they speak the language.
Ajay Maken is the party treasurer, and thus being a central office bearer, would automatically be amongst those who would play a stellar role. Not to forget, Ambika Soni, veteran leader, who in the past has been the eyes and ears of the high command on Punjab, shall be always there to offer valuable advice.
The fight between Raja Warring and Charanjit Singh Channi would have harmed both, and the two leaders now would be expected to play a supporting role to those who are given fresh responsibilities.
Politics also brings in many twists and turns, the one being mentioned in Punjab pertains to Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, former Deputy CM and Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur, who is also in-charge of Rajasthan. Randhawa, who was at one time a contender for CM post, had sided against Pilot in Rajasthan but now finds that his new boss in Punjab is the one whom he opposed.
But this may not come in the way of how Pilot views the politics, since winning is his only objective.
There is also intense speculation on whether Captain Amarinder Singh, former CM, who is in the BJP, would return to the Congress fold given some confusing statements made by him. The Captain would be an asset, in the sense that his presence would be enough to inspire workers, even if he would not be in contention for any post before or after the election. His desire is to make his daughter as his political heir from Patiala.
The BJP-Akali tie-up is still in the air. The question remains whether Pilot would bring the Congress back to power.
Between us.
