- People closely following the political churnings in the country would not have missed the fast-unfolding events in Punjab over the last few months. Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s tussle for one-upmanship was hitting the national news headlines consistently. The issue culminated in Sidhu’s appointment as the State Congress Chief. However, the appointment of the maverick cricketer-turned-politician only helped in allowing the dissidents to rally around Sidhu ensuring the unceremonious exit of the captain. Nobody in their right senses would have thought the matter would be precipitated to such levels so quickly forcing the tallest Congress leader in the state to depart humiliated and hurt.
PC: ADITYA MENON
- Looking back at the turn of events in Punjab would explain why Captain found himself cornered resulting in his eventual departure from the citadel when state elections are less than five months away. Despite handsomely winning the 2017 assembly elections, the Amarinder-led government could not make much headway in the 2015 sacrilege incidents. Next, several years were lost amid CBI’s inconclusive probe but even the state government’s SIT faced a massive setback in the unpopular Kotkapur firing case. Further, continuing hooch and illicit drugs trade also contributed to creating a perception of Congress’s failure. On top of it, Punjab recorded India’s worst Covid case fatality rate, which at 2.7% is twice the national average, indicating the health system completely failed many patients.
- As discontentment was brewing within the state as well as the Congress legislature party, the high command was left with no choice but to call for a party meeting at a short notice. It is reported that Amarinder’s sacking ensued largely owing to 60 MLAs signing to seek a change in leadership. Though there were many claimants for the post, including Sidhu, the high command choosing a Dalit CM in Charanjit Singh Channi whose voters constitute over 31%, is a bold experiment given the Jat Sikh dominance in Punjab for decades. The new CM has little time to leave behind an imprint but the message being sent by his appointment is truly going to be a deciding factor during the ensuing elections. Here, the Congress high command deserves to be lauded for such a move.
PC:
- Any political party wishing to garner support and accolades cannot let go of any opportunity to present an optics of decisive decision-making when chances of simmering dissatisfaction amongst the people would snowball adversely affecting its prospects. The Grand Old Party is known to be indecisive in showing the doors to old guards holding reigns in few states continuing to enjoy the patronage of the Family despite far from satisfactory performances. The Rahul-Priyanka duo is showing signs of easing out well-entrenched leaders by choosing younger faces. The same decisiveness should be showed in states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh which is in the midst of dissidence activities. The revival of Congress in whatever form is critical for the vibrancy of India’s democracy. Expectations about similar proactive measures from the GOP would grow from now on. Acting along the lines of going ahead would do no harm whatsoever.
