‘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:

It has been a year since the Congress president dissolved the PPCC and all district committees. How are you managing?

The PPCC and district committees were dissolved officially, but we continue to have an informal set-up. It’s not that I am working in a vacuum. I still have those people who were holding positions. We can say they are working in say ‘acting capacity’. During the coronavirus pandemic, we did well to provide assistance to people who needed food, wanted to return to their homes and any other help. We also held (former Congress president) Rahul Ji’s tractor march, and awareness programmes in districts on farm ordinances. With this existing, non-official set-up, I think, we did fairly well.

Congress president has been making appointments elsewhere, including some neighbouring states. What is holding up the formation of PPCC and district committees?

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.

AICC general secretary in-charge Harish Rawat recently said that the office-bearers will be appointed after the farmers’ stir gets over.

I would say that it has been delayed and should be done at the earliest possible. I would leave it to the high command.

Twenty-three senior Congress leaders had flagged issues related to the functioning of the party. Does this delay in restructuring not typify the adhocism prevailing in the party?

There is no adhocism in this. The role of the high command or the general secretary in-charge is to carry everyone along, resolve the friction points 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.

On farm laws, both the Centre and farmers are adamant on their stand. What is the way forward?

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.

With what agenda, are you going into the local body elections?

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.

With reservation of 50% seats for women kicking in, there is bickering over tickets at several places and many are said to be pushing for their kin. How do you plan to handle this?

The 50% reservation has upset so many people’s aspirations. This reservation was due. The CM has taken a bold step. There are more aspirants than seats. And, there is always heartburning in these things. The party will try to take everyone along and field deserving candidates, with winnability being an important factor. We will finalise the candidates by January 26.