Capt Amarinder Singh ready to float new party, prepares logical ground to dump Congress

By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: Deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha and former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh seems preparing logical ground to dump Congress party and form a new party allegedly with the backing of ruling SAD and BJP in a bid to deflate the AAP impact in the state. It is unlikely that he would join SAD or BJP but he may be falling into the trap of either of them or both of them.

Though expected, the PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa today in a statement claimed that Capt Amarinder Singh is going to float a new party with the backing of BJP. If the allegations have any substance, it raises the question that would he contest the 2017 assembly poll independently or with the help of BJP ? In such a scenario SAD may contest separately and this could be strategical move of bigger game plan of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal. In any case even if Capt Amarinder forms a party with or without the support of SAD or BJP, does he carry the strength to emerge a force bigger than AAP in Punjab ?

The emergence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab is a major challenge for SAD-BJP alliance as the people who are looking for a change in the state are rallying behind AAP, not the Congress party. The leadership issue of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) raked up by Capt Amarinder Singh had dimmed the Congress hopes of returning to power in 2017. The party has lost golden time of gaining from the under current of anti-incumbency factor.

The outburst of Captain Amarinder Singh against the party high command has now made it clear that he would dump the Congress for 'reasons' he has apprantely hiding so far and not for the reasons he has created to take a public posture. His opposition to the appointment of PPCC Partap Singh Bajwa now appeared to have sourced from his strategy to gain personal political ground at the cost of Congress party and wait for the suitable opportunity to step out of party. His absence from Lok Sabha sessions being Deputy Leader is another strong indication that he wanted to maintain the gesture of anger against Congress party.

Congress party had lost two successive assembly elections under Capt Amarinder Singh in 2007 and 2012. Even Capt Amarinder Singh would not risk third defeat in a row and will not be interested to head the PPCC to face an eminent disaster and get a kick from party high command. He has no option other than looking for other options. But he seems to have worked only on one option to neutlralise the AAP wave. It is obvious it will only help SAD-BJP to return to power, not to help Congress anyway.

Capt Amarinder Singh in an interview given to Times of India has openly revolted against the leadership of AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi and didn't deny the question that he is going to float a new party. In reply to a question he said that people were saying him, if this way Congress is going to behave just go on your own. He made the point that if Congress is not ready to face the challenge in Punjab,he has to look at options.

Capt Amarinder Singh is seeing a challenge from AAP to Punjab and has adopted same life of attack against it which the SAD is taking to descredit the AAP leadership. He has said in his interview that Khalistanis and Naxalites. are joining AAP in Punjab, it's a combination of extremist Sikh thought and Naxalite thought.He has described AAP MPs Dharamveer Gandhi and Sadu Singh were former naxalites. He feared that more naxalites and extremists would join AAP and take over the control of party like Sant Jarnail Singh Bhndrawala took control from SAD leaders during people upsurge agaist Congress in early 80's. His statement is aimed to create a fear among the people. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has also creates similar fear for Hindus that terrorism may return if they would not vote for SAD-BJP alliance.

Captain Amarinder Singh has expressed strong disliking for the working style of Rahul Gandhi which shown his frustration. Probably, Congress High Command has refused to bow to his demand to remove Bajwa from his post or the it is best opportunity to jump out of wagon before Congress actually accepts his demand. Congress party has taken consistant stand not to replace Bajwa. The names suggested by Capt
Amarinder to replace Bajwa were not acceptable to party high command. The two names he suggested were of Lal Singh and Ambika Soni and both are not mass leaders.

Captain Amarinder Singh had held a series of rallies in Punjab during last few months in hich he attacked SAD-BJP for shielding drug and sand mafia. He pulled the crowds at his rallies and about 36 Congress MLAs supported his cause to strengthen the party in state. But would these MLAs continue to support Capt Amarinder Singh, if he takes the option of forming new party ?

One logic in Punjab politics is very clear that any leader who can dare to speak against the SAD-BJP government and particularly against the Badal family, he can gain public sympathy.

Capt Amarinder Singh had taken line against SAD-BJP government and also refused to attend the political programmes announced by PPCC and his motive seems clear that he wanted to make a nitch for himself, party was not his priority. Two of loyalsits of Capt Amarinder Singh, Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna and Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh had resigned from Congress to pave way to get SAD absolute majority in Vidhan Sabha, While Jeet Mohinder himself joined the SAD and won his assembly seat, the Dhuri seat a Congress stronghold also went to SAD.

Congress High Command believed to have an idea of plans of Capt Amarinder Singh and remained firm not to replace PPCC President. He seemed provoking the party to expell him which might help create sympathy for him in the party. He was not attending Lok Sabha, holding parallel rallies to PPCC without the consent of party high command and also opposed official party line on many issues like handing over drug probe to CBI and recently opposing Congress party's opposition of GST bill in Lok Sabha.

There is no doubt Capt Amarinder Singh is a crusador and crowd puller but he forgets that he drives his strength from Congress party. He had formed Panthic Morcha to contest Punjab assembly elections in 1992 when SAD had boycotted the elections. His party was wiped out and he had lost Kharar seat and won from Patran seat when Congress decided to withdraw its candidate in favour of Capt Amarinder Singh. He returned to Congress and became Chief Minister in 2002.