The Congress party has assigned key organisational roles to several senior leaders from Amritsar as it gears up for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, signalling a strategic push to consolidate its base in the Majha region.
Key Appointments Announced by AICC
According to the latest appointments announced by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla has been named co-chairperson of the party’s manifesto committee. This move reflects the party’s confidence in Aujla’s electoral experience and his ability to connect with grassroots workers and voters.
Rajasansi Congress MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria has also been appointed co-chairperson of the same committee. Former minister Raj Kumar Verka has been appointed executive president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Considered an influential Dalit face of the party, Verka’s new role is seen as politically significant as Congress seeks to strengthen its outreach among various social groups.
Additional Responsibilities for Senior Leaders
The party has also assigned important organisational responsibilities to senior leaders OP Soni and Sukhbinder Singh Danny. Soni has been made co-chairman of the election management and coordination committee, while Danny has been appointed executive president.
These appointments are particularly noteworthy in Amritsar district, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) currently has only one minister. The Congress hopes to leverage these experienced leaders to regain ground in the region.
Unity Challenges Ahead
However, the real test for the party will be to ensure unity among its ranks. In the Amritsar north Assembly segment, former BJP leader Anil Joshi, who is now in Congress, along with former MLA Sunil Dutti, are main contenders. A similar situation is unfolding in Amritsar south, where former MP Jasbir Singh Gill and former Improvement Trust Chairman Dinesh Bassi are both interested in the ticket.
In Ajnala too, a section of Congress workers is demanding that Sukh Aujla, brother of MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, be fielded as the party candidate. However, former MLA Harpartap Singh Ajnala is also in the race, indicating potential internal friction.
