AMRITSAR: The removal of Amritsar and Batala Improvement Trust’s chairman by the Charanjit Singh Channi-led government in Punjab has prompted rumours of the possible replacement of Amritsar mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu. Though replacements are largely considered as “pure political vendetta” by those having the reins of power to sideline former chief minister Amarinder Singh’s loyalists, a few Congress leaders have objected at the hasty moves and brought the same to the knowledge of party high command in Delhi to freeze similar replacements in future.
Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) chairman Dinesh Bassi became the first political scapegoat after Channi took over as new chief minister of Punjab, followed by Batala Improvement Trust (BIT) chairman Pawan Kumar Pamma. While Bassi was considered Amarinder loyalist, Pamma’s appointment was made with the reported intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa. Bassi has been replaced by Damandeep Singh, a Sidhu loyalist, and Pamma by Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa confidant Kasturi Lal Seth.
The new political dispensation in Punjab has already made overnight reshuffle in the police department by posting their “favourites” at desirable places.
Sources here informed that Rintu was allegedly “humiliated” during Channi’s Amritsar visit on Thursday, leading to speculation about a similar fate to that of Bassi and Seth. The name of a Congress party’s municipal councillor Ajit Bhatia is making rounds to replace Rintu. However, a Congress MLA from Amritsar has reportedly intervened to bring “truce” between Rintu and Sidhu. Rintu was with Amarinder’s camp before the Sidhu faction gained political weight.
“A senior party leader who is currently on tour to Delhi has brought the politically motivated appointments in Punjab to the knowledge of the Gandhis to prevent further revengeful moves by the Channi government,” said sources. Commenting on the recent political developments in Punjab, senior Congress leader Raman Bakshi said, “Change is the law of nature and there is nothing wrong in making one’s own team and it has always been happening”.
Bassi had reportedly claimed stake on Amritsar East assembly constituency ahead of the 2017 assembly elections at the instance of Amarinder. “This is party’s decision and I accept it with all humility,” Bassi said when asked about his replacement on Channi’s maiden visit to Amristar after taking over the command of Punjab.
Sources, however, claimed Bassi’s proximity with Amarinder was one among other reasons for his removal, besides his bid to contest from Amritsar East assembly constituency from where Sidhu won 2017 assembly elections.
If sources are to believed, some Congress party ticket aspirants also met Channi during his visit to Amritsar. Former Congress MLA Harjinder Singh Thekedar, who had recently challenged sitting Congress MLA from Amritsar South assembly constituency Inderbir Singh Bolaria and not just staked claim on the seat but also begun campaigning was nowhere to be seen during Channi’s visit.
Thekedar was trying to emerge as a parallel centre of power in Amritsar South assembly constituency on the backing of Amarinder after Bolaria joined Sidhu’s camp.
