Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 18
The sudden and unceremonious exit of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh signals the pre-eminence of the Gandhi siblings in the decision-making structure of the Congress and holds lessons for party veterans going forward.
“The message in the story is — anything is possible,” said a Congress insider describing the midnight decision of the AICC to convene a Punjab CLP meeting on Saturday as a “surgical strike” on Captain Amarinder whom, sources said, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra increasingly viewed as “inaccessible, close to SAD and low performing”.
The trigger for CM’s resignation was a recent letter nearly 60 party MLAs (out of 80) wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi seeking his replacement to offset “anti-incumbency” and saying in no uncertain terms they will not be able to work with him anymore.
“With the majority MLAs against the CM, there was no option but to replace him,” said a Congress functionary, asserting the party gave Capt Amarinder ample time to set the house in order. While Sonia, known to have backed Capt Amarinder against graver rebellions, gave the CM a long rope, the Gandhi siblings are learnt to have pressed for something “drastic”, especially after the BJP overhauled the entire Gujarat Cabinet.
Among issues that weighed against Capt Amarinder were — he was not meeting MLAs regularly enough and the distance had led to alienation among lawmakers and party workers; he addressed few public functions in Punjab; and even ministers did not have direct access to him. “Inaccessibility remained a major challenge with Capt Amarinder and continued to be repeatedly raised, finding traction with Rahul and Priyanka,” said a source.
Matters worsened due to constant public acrimony between PCC chief Navjot Sidhu and Capt Amarinder, with the party’s electoral prospects visibly hit. “This demanded immediate course correction,” said an AICC source.
The majority of Punjab leaders had hoped the Congress leadership would replace the CM when they appointed Sidhu as the state chief, to avoid parallel power centres. Two months on, the two were still at loggerheads.
Why the course correction
- The trigger was a recent letter by 60 MLAs to Congress chief seeking replacement to offset ‘anti-incumbency’. They were ‘unwilling to work with him anymore’
- Most party men hoped Captain would be replaced as CM with Sidhu’s appointment as state chief to avoid parallel power centres, said a source
- Matters worsened due to public acrimony between two. With poll prospects visibly hit, Rahul and Priyanka pressed for something ‘drastic’ and the party pulled the plug on CM
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi stamp writ large
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