In the later part of 2021, Charanjit Singh Channi was nominated for the chief minister of Punjab. A certain faction in Punjab Congress had then started to believe that Channi; backed by Priyanka is a viable replacement for Sidhu, backed by Rahul Gandhi. Now, Rahul Gandhi is making it clear that Channi’s status is that of being a night-watchman only.
Infighting inside Congress intensifies
As the election is approaching, infighting among Congress leaders for ticket distribution is catching heat. The latest one to suffer insult from Congress high command is chief minister Channi himself. Apparently, his brother has been denied a ticket to fight from Congress.
Manohar Singh, Channi’s brother has decided to field himself against the Congress party in the upcoming assembly election. He will be contesting as an independent candidate. Before announcing his independent candidature, Manohar had sought permission from Congress to contest on their ticket from Bassi Pathana. However, his brother’s party did not buzz and fielded MLA Gurpreet Singh GP from the seat.
Manohar is one of the most qualified candidates
Manohar decided to stay firm on his stand. Claiming that he has support from influential people of the said constituency, he said, “Several prominent people of Bassi Pathana area have asked me to fight as an independent and I will go by what they have said. There is no chance of going back and I will surely fight the polls,”
Manohar is one of the most highly qualified candidates fighting in the election. According to reports available in the public domain, he is a doctor who holds degrees in Journalism and Law as well. He resigned from his post of senior medical officer to pitch himself for the MLA position.
Manohar’s rejection is a big victory for Rahul Gandhi faction
Ever since Charanjit Singh Channi has been inducted as the Chief Minister of Punjab, the conflict between him and PPCC Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu began. In the beginning, they were at loggerheads with each other as both were batting for their ministers to be inducted. Sidhu, eyeing the CM chair has time and again slammed Channi. Sidhu also objected to Channi’s decision to appoint advocate general APS Deol and state DGP.
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Manohar’s rejection came as possibly the final verdict in the supremacy war between Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. After Captain Amarinder Singh’s humiliating ousting by Sidhu, Punjab Congress is divided into two factions. Charanjit Singh Channi is leading the one while Navjot Singh Sidhu is leading the other.
Read more: It’s Priyanka vs Rahul in Punjab as Channi and Sidhu lock horns
Gandhis’ war of Supremacy in Punjab
Both camps have their separate warheads in Delhi. It was pretty clear from the beginning that Sidhu has Rahul Gandhi’s active support. Meanwhile, Channi is believed to be backed by his sister Priyanka Gandhi. Any doubts about Channi having Priyanka’s support was cleared in recent controversy around the assassination attempt of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
One of the fault lines in PM Modi’s security breach was that of lack of Punjab government’s support to him. Channi was especially criticised for not being present with the Prime Minister of the country. Later Channi tried to evade his responsibility by saying that he had briefed Priyanka Gandhi about the issue. Apparently, Channi reports to Priyanka Gandhi and not Rahul or Sonia or any other senior Congress leader.
Read more: ‘I wish you a long life’, days after security lapse, Channi goes into damage control
It’s yet to be seen which division of Congress emerges as ultimate victorious. However, one thing is clear that all is not well in the oldest party of India. Setbacks after setbacks in the last decade have torn them apart. Gandhis’ war over a night-watchman and his lead is the ultimate sign of the decline of the Grand Old Party.