Finalise election panels by September 30, Congress tells Sidhu

NEW DELHI: Eager to kickstart its ‘institutional mechanism’ for the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab amid disruptive infighting in the state unit, Congress has set a deadline of September 30 for state president Navjot Singh Sidhu to finalise the election committees for the approval of the central leadership.For every election, Congress states prepare several panels like the campaign committee, manifesto committee etc, which decide on the future policy vision and plan the electioneering. In Punjab, however, the confrontation between Sidhu and chief minister Amarinder Singh has emerged as a hurdle in finalising the process which marks the start of poll campaigning.Well-placed sources said an exasperated AICC has told the state unit that it should clinch the panels by September 30. They are then to be sent to the central leadership for approval and release. A key concern of the party is whether the state unit will involve the multiple factions and leaders, to make the panels participatory and inclusive. It is felt that such an approach would quell the bickering and signal to the electorate that Congress is approaching the elections in earnest.With the entire focus till now on the ‘Sidhu versus Amarinder’ headlines, Congress is eager that the party move on by taking concrete steps towards preparation for elections. “We have to announce the panels in the first week of September. It is important that the state unit proceeds ahead,” a senior leader said.While Congress was confident in going to the polls in Punjab a few months ago, the sudden outbreak of dissidence and factionalism created a crisis which ultimately led to the appointment of Sidhu as PCC chief. However, it has failed to end the confrontation as Sidhu has kept his focus on criticising the state government and targeting the chief minister.Repeated attempts to bring the top two state leaders together have failed, raising concern in the leadership about the party’s prospects. Congress is facing an aggressive campaign by AAP while Akali Dal is also making a serious bid to resurrect itself after the debacle of the 2017 elections.