Punjab: Congress infighting to the fore in Bathinda

BATHINDA: Wrangling within the Congress came to the fore in Bathinda on Tuesday when two groups, one belonging to Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and the other to former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, came face to face wih each other at the party’s district office here and indulged in sloganeering.
The episode took place in front of Congress observers who had reached Bathinda to hold a meeting for the election of the party’s district and block presidents. When observers were taking suggestions from party activists, Manpreet loyalist and senior deputy mayor Ashok Kumar, and district Congress committee’ vice-president Surinderjit Singh Sahni, Warring’s loyalist, had exchanges. Both sides accused each other of indiscipline. It was claimed that even when the Congress was appointing the mayor of Bathinda, suggestions of party leaders were not taken.
Earlier, on Monday evening Manpreet’s relative Jaijeet Singh Johal in a Facebook post, had objected to Warring and Bharat Bhushan Ashu getting plum party posts. He had written that the party was promoting those who were breaking party discipline.
Appointed as DRO for elections, Om Parkash said he had come to take suggestions for polls and would send a report to the party high command. Sahni said some party leaders were trying to challenge the state chief’s authority and this would not be tolerated.