Don't vote for them: Mann takes swipe at Punjab Congress over leadership tussle
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday intensified his attack on the Congress, mocking the party's internal factionalism ahead of next year's Assembly elections and
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday intensified his attack on the Congress, mocking the party's internal factionalism ahead of next year's Assembly elections and urging voters to deny it enough seats to even contemplate choosing a chief minister. Addressing a public gathering in Hoshiarpur’s Mukerian, Mann claimed the Punjab Congress was consumed by a leadership tussle, with its senior leaders competing for the top post instead of focusing on public issues. Read Full Story He argued that people should vote in a manner that spares the Congress the "problem" of deciding its chief ministerial face, asserting that the party first needs to win the required numbers before aspiring to form the government. Mann's remarks come amid deepening divisions within the Punjab Congress following the party high command's decision to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the state unit president while appointing former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi as chairman of the campaign committee. The move has triggered open dissent from a section of senior leaders led by Channi and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who have demanded Warring's removal and backed Channi for a larger leadership role.
Taking a swipe at the opposition's internal differences, Mann said, "Raja Warring doesn't get along with Channi, Channi doesn't get along with Bajwa, Bajwa doesn't get along with Randhawa, Randhawa doesn't get along with Warring, Warring doesn't get along with Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Navjot Singh Sidhu doesn't get along with anyone at all." He added, "It is crucial to put an end to the infighting within the Congress; we will have to step in now. Give them so few seats that the question of becoming Chief Minister never even arises—no bamboo, no flute". DOUBTS CONGRESS'S POLL PROSPECTS Claiming Congress leaders were prematurely fighting over the chief minister's post, Mann remarked, "Congress members are behaving as if the Governor has already fixed a time for the Chief Minister's swearing-in ceremony... To become the Chief Minister of Punjab, one needs 59 seats. Where will they get so many seats? They need to win the seats first before aspiring to be Chief Minister." Referring to the Congress' proposed statewide bus yatra to be flagged off by Rahul Gandhi, Mann quipped that while all leaders might board the bus together, "they certainly won't get off together." He sarcastically suggested that people capable of breaking up fights should accompany the leaders to prevent clashes, alleging they were fighting only for an opportunity to "loot" Punjab.
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