Cong insists Amarinder not 'fired', says high command decision

Congress party today dismissed suggestions that Amarinder Singh was "fired" as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief.
At the same time, party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit insisted that appointment of Gurdaspur MP Pratap Singh Bajwa in Amarinder's place was a "considered decision" of the high command.
Dikshit told reporters that after the Assembly elections even the PCC president had expressed the view that party should take a relook and make a change in the state.
He said it is in full wisdom that the party high command has taken the decision. "We welcome the new PCC chief and wish him all the best."

Dismissing suggestions that Amarinder has been fired, the Congress spokesman said, "it is not about firing and rather a considered decision of the high command."
He noted that if this was not the case then Amarinder would have been removed immediately after the Punjab Assembly elections.

Dikshit's remarks came close on the heels of Amarinder Singh saying he would have suggested a different name to replace him had he been consulted.
"I was not consulted on the decision. Had I been consulted, I would have suggested a different name who could lead the party at this crucial time," Singh earlier told PTI.

The recent Moga bye-poll loss seemed to have precipitated the change. Congress lost to the Akalis in the bye-poll after its MLA quit the party and re-contested as SAD candidate.
Singh had been under attack from within the party for his style of functioning. Demands for replacing him were made by various sections in the party.