CHANDIGARH – Former presidents of the Punjab Congress as well as district congress committees (DCCs) indicated to party general secretary Rahul Gandhi that Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh should be replaced by leader steeped in the Congress culture.
This was the underlying message of two separate meetings that Rahul held with eight former PCC chiefs and 45 former DCC presidents. Amarinder was not present at either of the meetings. Sources said former PCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo was the most vocal in criticising Amarinder. HS Hanspal and Mohinder Singh Kaypee also spoke on the occasion. Others present at the meeting were Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, RL Bhatia, Mohinder Singh Gill and Laal Singh.
The sources said that former PCC chiefs had told Rahul that a “committed” Congress leader steeped in the Congress culture was the need of the hour. One of the leaders spoke against the “ five- star culture” introduced into the Pradesh Congress. There was also talk of bridging the gap between the leaders and party workers.
Several complained against Amarinder’s lack of accessibility and his lacklustre campaign style. A leader urged for a quick decision on the leadership issue in Punjab.
There was an anti-Amarinder tone and tenor at Rahul’s meeting with former DCC presidents too. Only two former presidents, Ved Prakash Gupta from Patiala and Tara Chand Sandhu from Moga, spoke in Amarinder’s favour.
