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Punjab Cong feels the heat: Party down but not out, says Captain

Claiming to be unfazed at the results, Amarinder, said his party gracefully accepted the people’s verdict.

Talwandi Sabo: Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh at the partys political conference at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on Wednesday. PTI Photo (PTI4_13_2016_000230A)

THE IMPACT of the defeat faced by the Congress in Assembly elections in four states were felt in the Congress camp in 2012-Assembly poll bound Punjab as the morale of rank and file touched a lowest ebb even as Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said, “Congress may be down but certainly not out.” The party faced a drubbing in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam with Puducherry being the only saving grace. But an all-time low poll performance has caused worry and anxiety especially among the workers.

Already in opposition in Punjab for more than nine years, the party workers were looking forward to a ray of hope from these states. Claiming to be unfazed at the results, Amarinder, said his party gracefully accepted the people’s verdict. “Winning or not winning doesn’t matter and what matters is the participation and performance and the overall performance of our party has not been bad,” he said while pointing out that Congress had retained number two position in three states and formed the government in Puducherry.

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Despite the advent of Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, the Congress, harping on an unprecedented strong anti-incumbency against SAD-BJP government, has been hoping against hopes that it would script a victory story in 2017.

But losing in four out of five states that went to Assembly polls, the party rank and file, otherwise put up a brave face but said their worry had only mounted as it appeared to be a nationwide sentiment against the grand old party.

“The Punjab poll is just eight months away. With it losing even its two states the scenario is not very promising for the party,” said a party leader praying anonymity.

Stung by AAP in not just 2014 Lok Sabha elections, in which Punjab returned four AAP MPs out of 13, but in Delhi Assembly elections last year, it needs to emerge as the only alternative in Punjab. Otherwise, considering the groundswell of support for AAP, it may have to sit on opposition benches yet again.

Even after taking over of the party’s reins by Amarinder, who virtually waged a war against his predecessor, Partap Singh Bajwa and succeeded in ousting him, the party is yet to channelise all its energies to fight AAP and has instead been fire-fighting.

First uploaded on: 20-05-2016 at 03:36 IST

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