Punjab Cong MLAs authorise Sonia to pick new CLP leader

Punjab Congress MLAs today authorised party president Sonia Gandhi to pick a new leader of Legislative Party, a post which fell vacant after Sunil Jakhar resigned on November 26 to facilitate change in the state leadership.
At a meeting, chaired by AICC general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Punjab Shakeel Ahmad, a resolution was passed in this regard.
The meeting was also attended by the party's two central observers -- Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi and former minister RPN Singh.
"MLAs have authorised Congress President to take a decision on electing Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader," Ahmad told reporters here.

He said the name of the new CLP leader is expected to be announced before the party's Bathinda rally on December 15 when newly-appointed state Congress chief Amarinder Singh will take over charge.
As many as 37 MLAs signed the resolution, party sources said.

While Amarinder is reportedly throwing his weight behind Jakhar for CLP leader, the names of Dalit leader Charanjit Singh Channi and Raj Kumar Verka are also doing the rounds.
During the meeting, some MLAs even lobbied for Jakhar for CLP leader and some wanted Channi to be new CLP leader, given the state's over 30 per cent scheduled caste population.

The central observers also held one-on-one meetings with the MLAs to know their views on the appointment.
Last month, Congress had appointed Amarinder as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, replacing Partap Singh Bajwa, while AICC general secretary Ambika Soni was made the head of the campaign committee in a major reshuffle of the state unit ahead of the 2017 assembly polls.
Later talking to reporters, Ahmad said that the party high command would discuss the possibility of grand alliance in Punjab with the new state unit chief.
Though issue of grand alliance was not yet discussed with Amarinder, but it would be taken up once he takes over the post of PPCC President on December 15, he said.

On the issue of giving new responsibility to Bajwa, he evaded a direct reply and said the party knows when and how to utilise the services of a leader.
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Later, Ahmad took a dig at yoga guru Baba Ramdev, calling him as "businessman".
"In earlier times, Babas and Swamis were into spirituality and used to carry out welfare works for the benefit of people. But today's Swami like Baba Ramdev is into making of noodles and biscuits," Ahmad said.
He said Ramdev is a "businessmen" whose "Patanjali" has turned into a Rs 2,000 crore group.
Ahmad also hit out at the ruling Badal family in Punjab, saying "in all businesses, Badal family has presence".