NEW DELHI: Congress veteran Amarinder Singh’s resignation as chief minister of Punjab has ended one chapter of dissent but thrown open another of uncertainty for the ruling party in the state headed towards elections in about four months. The Congress government in Punjab, which came to power in 2017, was jolted by revolts with its ministers and MLAs opening a front against chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on several occassions mostly since 2019. Here’s a look.
First week of Aug 2019: First signs of discontentment within Punjab Congress as MLAs ask questions about results on sacrilege and other issues in CLP meeting.
Sept 9, 2019: Amarinder Singh appoints six MLAs as his advisers with cabinet rank to diffuse brewing discontent.
Dec 9, 2019 PPCC president Sunil lakhar starts feedback meetings from Jalandhar, all negative feedback from workers, he discontinued the exercise.
Jan 21, 2020: Sonia Gandhi dissolves PPCC and district CongresS Committees, Punjab Congress president Sunil lalthar retained and an 11 member PPCC coortlination committee formed with Asha Kumari at its helm. No meetings held of both the committees.
March 3, 2020: Close to half of these MLAs did not attend a dinner hosted by the CM at his residence on March 3.11vo ministers and an adviser also stayed away.
March 2020:Dissatisfaction apparent from questions and statements of Congress MLAs during budget session.
September 2020: Hanish Rawat replaced Asha Kumari as MCC Punjab affairs in-charge.
April 9, 2021: Punjab and Haryana high court quashes investigation in Kobmpura firing case, already brewing discontentment starts spilling out.
May 30, 2021: Amarinder Facebook campaign page.Punjab Da Captain’, wed in 2017, projects his as CM candidate.
July 18, 20211: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi appoints Navjot Sidhu as the head of Punjab Congress, ignoring the strenuous objections raised by party leaders, led by CM Amalinder Singh.
Aug 24, 20211 At least 32 GIL., including four cabinet ministers, openly revolt against CM Amarinder Singh, declaring they no longe had faith in his ability to deliver on poll promises.
Aug 25, 2021 Ramat says the party wit contest the2022 assembly polls under Capt Amarinder Singh’s command Aug 26, 20211 Rawat embarrasses Sidhu by saying that either *should remove his advisers or he (Rawat) would remove them.
Aug 27, 2021 Sidhu tells the party high command that he should be given freedom to take decisions or else”I will give a befitting reply (itt naal itt wi bajaun)”
Sept 1, 2021 Rawat sits with chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh for three hours to convey him the grouses of the dissidents.
Sept 4: Two dissident ministers Riot Rajinder Singh Daiwa and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa demanded that Beata should be created as the 2/4th district of Punjab.