New Delhi/Chandigarh, October 22
Ahead of the crucial Assembly elections, the Congress high command on Friday appointed Harish Chaudhary as Punjab affairs in-charge, relieving AICC general secretary Harish Rawat of the charge. The party has once again reposed faith in Chaudhary, who was AICC secretary, Punjab affairs, from 2013 to 2018. He had played a key role in Congress’ victory in the 2017 Assembly elections.
Key challenge
- Chaudhary has his task cut out before the Punjab poll, his mightiest challenge being to get PCC chief Sidhu and CM Channi work together and ensure they do so publicly
Now Revenue Minister in the Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan, he has been mediating between Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. “With stakes high in election-bound Punjab, the party has picked Chaudhary who has a thorough knowledge of Punjab politics,” remarked a senior party leader. Chaudhary has been working on a poll strategy for Punjab for the past few weeks, say sources.
A Rahul Gandhi confidant, he was made observer midst the Punjab crisis after Amarinder Singh quit as CM. — TNS
Harish Chaudhary AICC in-charge for Punjab
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