Congress on Sunday picked Asha Kumari, an MLA from Himachal Pradesh, to replace Kamal Nath as the general secretary in-charge of poll-bound Punjab.
Asha Kumari was convicted in a land grab case and given one-year imprisonment by a Chamba court in February and is currently out on bail.
Asha Kumari, a former state education minister, was accused of illegally transferring 60 acres of government forest land 18 years ago, in the name of her husband.
Aam Aadmi Party claimed that Congress was not showing political will to counter corruption in the state.
AAP’s Rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh told PTI, “By appointing Asha Kumari as Punjab incharge, Congress party has proved they are not serious about getting rid of
corruption in the state. After tainted Kamal Nath, her appointment shows Congress is short of clean leaders.”
Earlier AAP opposed Kamal Nath, a veteran Congress leader’s, appointment as AICC general secretary of Punjab alleging role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and Nath had to step down on June 15.
Congress has already lost in the states of Kerala and Assam and this decision might be a shot in its own foot since assembly elections in Punjab is scheduled next year.
