‘Covid, change of in-charge behind delay in state party unit restructuring’
Amid murmurs of discontent in a section, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had dissolved the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and all district committees on January 21 last year to pave the way for restructuring, retaining former MP Sunil Jakhar as the state unit president. The new body has not been constituted even as the party prepares for the local body elections that are being seen as a virtual semi-final to the state assembly polls due early next year. In an interview, Jakhar talks about the state unit’s functioning, farmers’ stir and the upcoming civic polls. Excerpts:
Those are all piecemeal appointments. Here it is total restructuring. Also, our general secretary in-charge has been changed. Our list was already there with the AICC and sent in consultation with (then general secretary in-charge) Asha Kumari Ji and Capt saab (chief minister Amarinder Singh). Before the list could be approved, Harish Rawat Ji came in and his inputs are needed for overhaul. Then, the issue of organisational elections was raised by some people. and ensure coordination among leaders. Coupled with coronavirus earlier, the change of state in-charge led to this delay. I think, it should be in place now without further delay.
Both sides are not adamant. The obduracy is on the part of the central government. They have made it a prestige issue with false sense of ego and superiority. For farmers, it is a matter of life and death. They are just trying to protect their livelihood. The central government people know they have committed a blunder and are willing to change everything, but still unwilling to repeal the laws.
Development is our main agenda. In urban areas, it has been delayed due to coronavirus and the Centre’s step-motherly treatment. Still, a lot of work has been done and more needs to be done.