WHILE taking a clue from Bhartiya Janta Party high command which replaced four chief ministers in the span of six months that too in the hope of retaining power besides acting contrary to expectations of party cadres, the Congress high command has created a new ‘Crisis Management Team’ comprising the duo, Rahul and Priyanka, obviously fully supported by acting AICC president, Sonia Gandhi which took a bold decision to force Amridner Singh to resign and replace him by a Dalit face, Chanranjit Sigh Channi which may act as a trend setter to resolve an identical crises in Rajasthan, Chatisgarh .
Political observers believe that high command’s action in Punjab may act as Prelude to another neighboring chief minister, Ashok Gehlot who has been dilly dallying since past on year to fulfil the promise made by Prinynka and Rahul to former deputy chief minister, Sachin Pilot which had helped high command in checking the young leader from quitting the party. Similarly, high command will find it easy to handle Chhattisgarh crisis also besides dealing with dissensions in state units.
The emergence of Narender Modi on the national scene as a vote catcher and strong leader after winning 2014 Parliamentary elections for Bharatiya Janata Party resulted in the dwindling and weakening of Congress high command which can be attributed to dismal and humiliating performance of Congress party in these polls. Experts opine that whenever the top leadership ceases to be a force to win the polls for his or her party, high command concept becomes a causality which happened with grand old party also. Late Mrs Indira Gandhi used to enjoy absolute power as she could ensure victory in Lok Sabha elections and high command also became strong under Sonia
Gandhi as she was credited for reviving the organization after taking over as AICC president in 1998.Congress went on winning the polls in 2004 and 2009 hence high command could dictate and appoint the party chief ministers and state units chiefs. But everything changed when Congress was wiped out in Lok Sabha polls which was followed by a rout in several states.
Political observers say that high command handling of the crisis in Punjab may act as a precursor to resolving the pending issue of fulfilling, the promise made to former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot by Rahul and Priyanka which had prevented him from joining the BJP a year back. But chief minister, Ashok Gehlot has been dragging his feet to accommodate Pilot and his loyalists which had embarrassed the high command. As per indication, now it is the turn of Rajasthan and crisis management team is likely to take on Gehlot to force him to be flexible and adjust Pilot and his supporters in the government.
Then Chhattisgarh is also on plate and a decision to change some of the state presidents has been pending but none knows about high command’s strategy to have a regular national president?
Congress high command’s desperate move to install Dalit as chief minister in Punjab may have political connotations but he is bound to face a huge challenges of uniting the warring factional leaders who have got their ‘inflated egos’ and ‘vested interests’.
CHALLENGES FOR NEW CHIEF MINISTER
Outgoing chief minister had offended farmers when he asked them to shift their ‘Dharnas’ from Punjab to neighboring state or Delhi. Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and his party had been putting central government on the mat for ignoring farmers’ agitation and supported their demands of scrapping the farm laws. The famers are peacefully agitating at 113 places in Punjab and they may actively campaign against BJP in the state elections.
The unemployment problem is one of the biggest factors which is related to tall claim to give jobs to 19 lakh youths as ground reality may differ which is better known to common people.
Punjab state president, Navjot Singh Sidhu has been harping on stern action against those who committed religious sacrilege and accused his own government of being soft towards the culprits. Former CM had given the details of action in this case which included suspension of 15 policemen , filing of 24 charge sheets, arrests of 10 civilians etc.
The validity of power purchase agreements is yet another important issue which will require immediate settlement by new chief minister. Balancing of the power equation between Amrinder and Sidhu factions can prove the most difficult task as he will be expected to have equidistance to ensure better coordination between government and party. New CM has announced waiving off water and electricity bills for poor in the state. Rahul Gandhi’s support may help Channi to achieve this goal.
SIX FACTORS WHICH TILTED BALANCE IN FAVOUR OF CHANNI
Politics is a game of uncertainty due to which a low lying Dalit leader, Charanjit Singh Channi emerged as a ‘dark horse’ thereby outsmarting those who were already accepting the congratulatory
messages though high command was yet to announce the final name. It was clear that a dalit leader will create history especially after 15 chief ministers have occupied this chair since 1947 and none
from this category though Dalits constitute 31.9 percent of total population of Punjab.
Second, Channi’s proximity to Rahul Gandhi did play a major role and he won in the process of elimination. Duo consisting of Rahul and Priyanka were at the forefront to take this bold decision though they were backed by Sonia Gandhi.
Third, like BJP which replaced Vijay Rupani as CM in Gujarat due to caste factor to please Patels, Congress high command has tried to create a lethal amalgamation of Jat Sikh, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab congress president and dalit Channi.
Fourth, It will be first time in the history of Punjab when a dalit leader, who belongs to a community constituting about 31.9 percent of total Punjab population, will lead grand old party
along with Sidhu into Feb/March,2022 assembly elections.
Fifth, Congress has put the ball in the court of BJP which had taunted it to declare dalit as chief ministerial candidate which can be one of the election planks of Congress.
Sixth, though Channi was one of the four ministers who was actively involved in the campaign to oust Amrinder Singh but he is not a diehard enemy of ex CM who would have revolted, had Sidhu been chosen as new CM.
Sixth, choice of dalit leader will make to it difficult for congress leaders including Amrinder Singh to oppose the decision of the high command as every leader needs dalit votes to win the election. In Punjab assembly having a strength of 117 seats, Dalits constituencies are 34 and their annoyance can ensure defeat of several leaders. A per data, OBC constitute 31.3 percent, SC (Dalits), 31.9 percent and others 33 percent.
(K.S.TOMAR IS A POLITICAL ANALYST )
Disclaimer: The views in this article are author’s own.