Crisis In Punjab Congress Escalates, Central Team To Meet State Leaders

A three-member committee formed by Sonia Gandhi has now been tasked with meeting the all the state party leaders individually.

The Congress, practically wiped out in states, is witnessing massive dissent in Punjab, one of the few states where it is in power without any alliance. The grievances are against Amarinder Singh -- considered a powerhouse with a mass following who led the party to victory and dislodged the 10-year rule of the Akali-BJP combine in 2017. The rebels now contend that they cannot win the next assembly election -- due next year -- under the leadership of Mr Singh, popularly known as the Captain. A three-member committee formed by Mrs Gandhi has now been tasked with meeting the all the state party leaders individually. The committee -- led by veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge -- met 25 state leaders today. The group included the state party president Sunil Jakhar. The committee, which held its first meeting in Delhi on Saturday, has decided to call all ministers, present and former state unit chiefs, MPs, MLAs and other senior party leaders. Party sources indicate that while the grievances are varied -- some leaders even accused Mr Singh of harassment, especially over the MeToo case against a minister. But their key concern is the government's inability to bring to book the culprits in the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and police firing during peaceful protests, which took place in 2015.