Punjab Congress Balances Community Equations

Hindus had helped Congress win the recent elections in the state and the party is paying back by passing the baton of the Punjab unit to former leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar

- Bharat Hiteshi

With Captain Ama-rinder Singh, a Sikh as Chief Minister and Sunil Jakhar, a Hindu as President of Punjab Congress, Rahul Gandhi has tried to balance community equations. Analysis suggests that Hindus had helped Congress in a big win in Punjab in the recent elections and the party is paying back by passing the baton of the Punjab unit to former leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar.

The three-time MLA and son of former Lok Sabha Speaker, Balram Jakhar, Sunil Jakhar, an MBA, who is the new PCC President has the stamp of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Immediately on assuming charge, thanking party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Captain for reposing faith in him, Jakhar said, “I will try to work as a bridge between the party and the government.” Rahul picked Jakhar due to his oratory skills, loyalty factor and his popularity among legislators. Indeed Capt Amarinder Singh, on becoming Chief Minister, could not possibly continue to handle the double responsibility of government and party. The task becomes all the more daunting as BJP is preparing big for 2019 Parliamentary poll.

Obviously, Congress could not take chances and settled for the best. Jakhar made a competent leader of opposition in the last assembly and worked well in tandem with Capt Amarinder Singh after the later took over as Punjab Congress chief. The party high command had, obviously, no problem in accepting the Chief Minister’s proposal that Sunil Jakhar be elevated as Punjab Congress President. Jakhar seems the most suitable contender for the post, one that he is a Hindu, second that he is popular among legislators, is suave and well educated, his family has been loyal to Congress high command and shares excellent rapport with the chief minister.