Capt writes to Sonia to expand PPCC

The disquiet within Congress rank and file was obvious with Punjab Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today writing to party president Sonia Gandhi for permission to expand the list.

“Unfortunately,keeping with the constitutional requirement of limiting organisational structure of the party,the PPCC list announced yesterday stands reduced in size. Against 109 earlier,it has just 40 office-bearers (25 district presidents,eight general secretaries and seven vice-presidents). So many prominent senior leaders have been left out as also some young MLAs who are good performers and are vocal within the state Assembly and outside it,” Captain Amarinder Singh said while addressing mediapersons here today.

Making a case for a larger executive in view of the approaching polls,he said,he has written to party president Sonia Gandhi with a list of left-out names and the permission to expand the PPCC. On the names that should have made it to the list,he said,“Senior party leaders Avtar Brar,Avtar Henry and Tej Prakash Singh from former CM Beant Singh’s family should have been made a part of the PPCC along with young MLAs such as Sukhpal Khaira,Jassi Khangura and Sunil Jakhar who are active in the House and outside it in raising issues against the government.”

But while he wants more names on board,he announced those on the list will stay. “There is no opposition to those on the list but some senior and bright young leaders have been left out.” On appointment of family members of several leaders,he said the decision on family appointments was of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

On Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal being projected as chief ministerial candidate by the Akalis,he said it is well known that this year is CM Parkash Singh Badal’s last in active politics.

“We would be happy if Sukhbir is projected as CM candidate. The alliance has been so thoroughly discouraged it does not matter who is projected as CM.”

He also dismissed People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Badal as a seasonal wind that will help the Congress by hurting Akali votes and poll prospects.