Chandigarh, June 11: The district units of the Punjab Congress will soon get new presidents. The announcement is expected in a matter of days with a list of the shortlisted candidates having been sent to party president Rahul Gandhi. The appointment of district presidents will be followed by that of block-level presidents.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who re-established himself as the state party leader after party’s victory in the Shahkot byelection, and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar would have a larger say in the selection. It has already been decided that the sitting MLAs would not be made district presidents.
“To keep pressure on MLAs who owe allegiance to anti-Amarinder camps, including those supported by senior leaders Partap Bajwa and Ambika Soni, both Capt Amarinder and Jakhar are likely to bring in their loyalists,” said a senior leader.
Citing an example, party sources said by replacing Anil Vij, father of sitting MLA Amit Vij, as the Pathankot district chief, the party could bring in Sanjeev Bains from Bhoa to counter MLA Joginder Pal, who is reportedly close to Bajwa. Others in the race for Pathankot are Naresh Puri, son of a former minister Raghunath Sahai Puri, and Vinay Mahajan.
In case of Jalandhar, Jagbir Brar and Capt Harminder Singh, who had opposed the candidature of Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi, are in the race for district president’s post. Capt Harminder Singh is currently president of the district rural unit.
Jakhar said: “The recommendations have been sent to the party president. Replacing presidents of 28 district units is part of the restructuring plan.”
Source Tribune India
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