Sidhu shenanigans may hurt Cong badly in polls

The rise of dissidence in a political party is not a new phenomenon. Not infrequently it is ascribable to the pressing ambitions of those who deserve better and ought to replace the leader, but ideological schisms and political differences are also known to be cleaving factors. The Congress Party is no stranger to any of these situations since the last century. But the goings-on in the Punjab unit of the Congress look to be akin to a civil war and not ordinary dissidence.

With Captain Amarinder Singh, the chief minister, at the helm, the party was cruising along nicely and seemed to be in reasonable shape to take on all comers in the Assembly election due early next year. There were public grievances, no doubt, as is the case with incumbents, and in the case of the former maharaja of Patiala some of these related to his remoteness. Nevertheless, the ruling party seemed on a good wicket.

But the mounting of the bid by Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former cricketer who has shown a carpet-bagger’s abilities to sharpen his ambitions and has not been above party-hopping and party-shopping to further his aims, has evidently put a question mark on the Congress’ chances in the upcoming polls.

Mr Sidhu resigned from the Amarinder Singh cabinet chiefly to rabble-rouse against his party’s government. Along the way he gained adherents among party MLAs and some ministers as it became known that his patrons were Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi sitting in New Delhi. It is this which made the “Captain” yield to instructions to let Mr Sidhu replace the state party chief, Sunil Jakhar, a perfectly capable political figure known for his experience and sobriety — qualities that appear alien to the current state Congress president.

On being anointed state party chief, Mr Sidhu began appointing advisors — his own cabinet, so to speak, with the aim of instigating a revolt against the CM and seeking his replacement by magnifying small issues and scuttling intra-party conciliation processes initiated by the national party leadership. Matters became desperate when two of Mr Sidhu’s so-called advisors held forth in public on Kashmir and Pakistan, expressing opinions that are contrary to the Congress’ own policies as well as to the stated national position.

This is a serious matter indeed and is likely to hand Congress’ rivals, especially the BJP, a handy stick to beat the Congress with not only in Punjab but across the country. If the Congress “high command” continues to remain blind to the instability in its own party caused principally by their backing an insurgent who refuses to show maturity in his political style or stance, they may claim no respect in any opposition grouping to take on the BJP. The stakes are indeed very high.

There can be little doubt that the inner-party storms unleashed by Mr Sidhu and his cohorts with the undeniably foolish endorsement from on high can be tamed only by Mr Sidhu’s dispatch to the ranks from his leadership position. He has amply shown he has few leadership or party-building qualities. Merely announcing that the next state poll will be fought under the Captain’s leadership may not be enough to arrest the slide.

Mr Sidhu has amply shown he has few leadership or party building qualities. Merely announcing the next poll will be fought under ‘Captain’s leadership may not arrest the slide.