In yet another manifestation of infighting in the Punjab Congress, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today hit out at party president Pratap Singh Bajwa, alleging he was announcing candidates for coming Lok Sabha polls in the state without any authorisation.
Bajwa had overstepped his brief by announcing party candidates for Parliamentary seats in the state, he said in a statement here.
When contacted, the state Congress chief told PTI over phone that he was "answerable to the party High Command only".
"I have a lot of respect for Amarinder Singh, but I don't want to join issues with him," he said.
Amarinder said Bajwa had "no authority" to do so and this has only created confusion among the rank and file".
The state Congress chief had announced candidates for Lok Sabha seats of Jalandhar (Mohinder Singh Kaypee), Sangrur (Vijay Inder Singla) and Hoshiarpur (Santosh Chaudhary) during his rallies at these places, the former CM claimed.
Amarinder, who was Bajwa's precedessor, said "it is the prerogative of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi to allot tickets for elections."
"By going on the announcement spree, Bajwa has overstepped his brief," he said.
Amarinder, a bete noire of Bajwa, said "this will only send wrong signals among the rank and file."
He said there was a proper system in the Congress party to select candidates for contesting polls.
"A PCC president just cannot announce the candidates on his own," Amarinder said.
