Amarinder Singh's unceremonious ouster as Punjab chief minister, and the announcement of Charanjit Singh Channi as his replacement, has sent political shockwaves throughout the country. The major question on Congress leaders' lips was on the fate of the governments in states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where banners of revolt were already raised.
Reflecting the unease in the party, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday expressed the hope that Amarinder Singh "won't take any step that could cause damage to the Congress party", and stressed that every Congressman must think in the interest of the country. The Congress braved a rebellion by Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan last year and managed to save its government led by Gehlot, but there is simmering unrest in the state unit.
I hope that Capt. Amarinder Singh ji won't take any step that could cause damage to the Congress party. Capt. Sahib himself has said that the party made him CM and allowed him to continue as CM for nine and a half years. pic.twitter.com/rqJfzzxUp3
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) September 19, 2021
Talking to PTI, a senior Congress leader had said: "Punjab developments are likely to have ramifications elsewhere. Dissensions within the party may get fuelled and this will weaken the party further," said a senior leader. "The aspirations of leaders are often too high to be fulfilled. The conflict within the Congress is bound to grow if you try to accommodate all aspirations, as was sought to be done in Punjab by giving the MLAs a platform to speak out against the chief minister," said a party veteran, according to the news agency.
The Rajasthan BJP, at the same time, took a dig at Gehlot. "After Amarinder quit as the Punjab chief minister, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot is worried about his own fate," state BJP president Satish Poonia said on Sunday. "The developments in Punjab show that even senior Congress leaders are disillusioned with the party. The Congress is counting last breaths and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is more worried about his chair," he told reporters.
Poonia said whether the Rajasthan Cabinet reshuffle will ever take place has become a Rs 1 crore question of Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati. "There is neither an answer to it nor will people be able to get a reward," he said.
-Inputs from PTI
