Can’t stay in party, Amarinder tells Sonia as MLAs revolt against him: reports

Is a change of guard imminent in Punjab? Over 50 Congress MLAs from the state have written to party president Sonia Gandhi demanding that Amarinder Singh be replaced as chief minister, media reports said. A crucial meeting of the Congress Legislative Party in Chandigarh is scheduled in the evening.

As crisis intensifies once again in the Punjab unit of the party, Amarinder Singh has reportedly talked to Sonia Gandhi and expressed his anguish over his repeated “humiliation”. The CM is reported to have the Congress president that he can’t stay in the party after being repeatedly humiliated.

Amarinder Singh’s bete-noire and PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is eyeing the chief minister’s post, however, is not in the list of probables for the chief minister’s replacement. Reports quoting sources said that former PCC president Sunil Jakhar is among the names being considered for the chief minister’s post.

Reports said the current crisis is “serious” with so many MLAs seeking the chief minister’s replacement just a few months ahead of assembly elections in Punjab.

The Congress high command has deputed senior party leaders Ajay Maken and Harish Chaudhary as central observers for MLAs meet.

AICC general secretary in-charge for Punjab affairs of the party Harish Rawat will also be present during the meeting.

Reports said anything could happen at today’s CLP meeting considering the MLAs’ demand and the urgency of the meeting. If the MLAs insist on their demand, the change might happen at the CLP meeting itself.