The Hindu : Compromise worked out in Punjab Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

National

National

Compromise worked out in Punjab Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 6. In a compromise worked out to solve the crisis in the Punjab unit of the Congress, the party today formally declared that Amarinder Singh would continue to be the Chief Minister and elevated the dissident leader, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, as the Deputy Chief Minister.

The announcement made by the AICC general secretary, Mohsina Kidwai, in-charge of party affairs in the State, was part of the peace plan worked out by the party central leadership to end the dissidence in the legislature wing for the past one month.

As additional measure, the Chief Minister would expand his Council of Ministers to accommodate some MLAs from the dissident faction. Ms. Bhattal would continue to hold the portfolio of Agriculture while the key portfolio of Home would be with Mr. Amarinder Singh, Ms. Kidwai said.

Steps would be taken to strengthen the Pradesh Congress Committee, she said adding that the effort was to prepare the organisation for the Lok Sabha elections. There were indications that the party may change the State unit chief. Ms. Kidwai appreciated that the dissident MLAs remained loyal to the party in the wake of serious attempts by the rival Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party to woo them.

Truce between the two factions was arrived at here last night after a daylong exercise by an AICC panel to bring about a rapprochement. Ms. Bhattal agreed to sink her differences with the Chief Minister in view of the general elections.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National