Patiala Congress infighting is far from over

Disgruntled Congress leaders from Patiala met with Pradesh Congress Committee chairman Amrinder Singh Raja Warring a day ago, and the leaders have agreed to proceed with the planned workers’ gathering on April 20. In an appeal to the leaders, party candidate Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi said, “Listen to the high command and work for strengthening the party.”

A prominent politician who promised to attend the event and contribute to the costs stated, “At the last minute, they brought an outsider at the behest of some Punjab leaders who twisted political facts and sidelined loyal Congress leaders.”

Lal Singh, a senior Congress leader, said that he had been working for the Congress since 1968 and had never considered rebelling or quitting.

“We are grateful for the efforts made by our leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Warring, whom we heard yesterday. The only thing left to do is to hang on and pay attention to the party workers, who are the vital component of the gathering. We are unable to overlook them. In the end, the workers will “ensure votes for the leader,” he said, adding, “We are not leaving the party or revolting, but workers must be heard.”

Hardyal Kamboj, a former MLA and senior Congressman, said that there was “discontent in the party’s rank and file” in Patiala and that it was crucial that the workers at the grassroots level be heard at the gathering on April 20. The reason Patiala has remained the state’s bastion of our party’s dominance is the diligent, devoted, and industrious labor force. But they are furious because they chose to ignore their own leaders and field a turncoat,” he said.

Warring forced Patiala party officials who were against Dr. Gandhi to speak with Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, pleading with him to call off the workers’ conference scheduled for April 20 in opposition to the official candidate.

However, Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi said that leaders “should abide by the party” decision, referring to the “rebellion” as a “internal matter of the Congress.” Gandhi said, “I have spoken to a few of them on the phone but not personally met them,” when asked whether he had met any of them or tried to address the course of events.

Aside from halqa in-charges Vishnu Sharma from Patiala and Darbara Singh from Shutrana, Congress heavyweights including Lal Singh, former MLAs Hardyal Singh Kamboj, Madan Lal Jalalpur, and Rajinder Singh (son of Lal Singh), rejected the party ticket to an outsider.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, a former cricket player who is now a politician, spent two days in Patiala when he was occupied with the IPL. He did, however, avoid becoming involved in local politics and met privately with a few of his Congress aides, notably Shamsher Singh Dullo, the former head of the PPCC.