Punjab political crisis: Amarinder Singh meets Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Amidst a leadership row in Punjab, former chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday met Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and discussed with them the way forward for strengthening the party and resolving the differences among its state unit members. [caption id=“attachment_2284940” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Punjab Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Amarinder Singh. AFP[/caption] Sources said the meeting at 10, Janpath, the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi lasted for around 35 minutes during which discussions were held on how to resolve the leadership row in Punjab. Amarinder has been pressing for the removal of present PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa and is looking to install one of his supporters in the latter’ place. The former Punjab chief minister is learnt to have again sought an early change of guard in Punjab under a consensus leader to keep Congress’s flock together as the party attempts to wrest power from the Akali Dal-BJP combine. Punjab is slated to go to elections in early 2017. Congress has lost the previous two consecutive Assembly polls in the state. Sources said that Amarinder has suggested the names of his close associates Sunil Jakhar and Lal Singh as likely replacements for Bajwa. Amidst increased infighting and a widening rift among its senior leaders in Punjab, the Congress high command has embarked on an exercise to put its house in order in the state. As part of the exercise, Rahul met Bajwa last week and also agreed to participate in a padyatra starting 2 October in the state. The Congress vice president also gave his nod to Bajwa to go ahead with a programme aimed at connecting with weaker sections of society which was launched at Sri Hargobindpur on June 2 and will conclude on 28 September. Rahul also met AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who is in charge of party affairs in Punjab, to discuss the party’s revival plan in the state. PTI