Chandigarh:
May Captain Amarinder Singh return to the Congress forward of the 2027 Punjab Meeting elections? There isn’t any affirmation of such a transfer. Amarinder himself has rejected the hypothesis and mentioned he isn’t returning to Congress. However the dialogue has gained consideration after Rahul Gandhi lately made a pleasant reference to the previous Punjab Chief Minister.
The timing is vital as a result of Punjab Congress is once more going through inner variations, primarily between former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Each have their very own supporters and ambitions, whereas different senior leaders are additionally making an attempt to retain their political area.
Just lately, a big group of Congress leaders gathered on the residence of Rana Gurjit Singh and raised considerations in regards to the functioning of the state unit. Rana Gurjit has been related to Amarinder up to now, including to hypothesis in regards to the Captain’s persevering with affect amongst sections of the Punjab Congress. After Rahul Gandhi remark, Rana Gurjeet was the primary one who welcomed Captain Amarinder Singh in Congress if he comes again in social gathering fold.
For now, nonetheless, Amarinder’s comeback stays solely hypothesis.
Amarinder nonetheless has appreciable political expertise. He served as Punjab Chief Minister twice and led Congress to a serious victory within the 2017 Meeting elections. His second tenure led to 2021 after a bitter management battle with the Congress excessive command. He left the social gathering and later joined the BJP.
But his political community and affect amongst outdated Congress leaders haven’t utterly disappeared.
For some Congress leaders, Amarinder’s expertise and understanding of Punjab’s political and social equations may very well be helpful because the social gathering prepares for 2027. He may probably act as a bridge between rival teams.
However there may be additionally a severe threat.
Congress has already suffered due to inner combating. The Amarinder-Sidhu confrontation and Amarinder’s eventual exit left the social gathering badly divided earlier than the 2022 elections, which Congress misplaced to the AAP.
At present, the social gathering once more has a number of centres of affect. There’s the Channi camp, the Warring camp backed by the excessive command, and different senior leaders reminiscent of Partap Singh Bajwa and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. If Amarinder returns, he may turn out to be one other energy centre.
That would strengthen Congress if he unites the factions. It may weaken the social gathering additional if it creates one other management contest.
The largest query could be his function.
If Congress brings Amarinder again as a senior statesman, marketing campaign strategist or consensus-builder, his expertise may very well be a bonus. But when he returns as one other claimant to political authority, the social gathering may face one other spherical of infighting.
Rahul Gandhi has already warned Punjab Congress leaders that no particular person is greater than the social gathering and that those that fail to work as a crew may very well be pushed apart.
Political observers say the Congress wants unity greater than one other management battle. Punjab voters are unlikely to be impressed by continued factionalism.
Amarinder’s return, if it ever occurs, may give Congress a psychological and political enhance. However provided that he turns into a bridge between Channi, Warring and different leaders.
If he turns into one other faction, his return may deepen the disaster.
For now, the Captain says he isn’t returning. However the renewed hypothesis reveals that his political relevance in Punjab has not disappeared.
