Amarinder's political hibernation over, back in Punjab politics

Chandigarh, Aug 6 (UNI) After staying in the wilderness for almost a year and a half, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is back at the centrestage of Congress politics in Punjab following his appointment as Chairman of the party's Campaign Committee.

The appointment signals the rehablitation of Capt Singh who had been lurking in the wilderness after being ousted from power in the assembly polls in February last year. Though the former chief minister had been aspiring for the state Congress presidents post, but for the time being, the part high command prefered Mohinder Singh Kaypee, a dalit Hindu leader and former MLA from Jalandhar for the top state party post.

The appointment of Capt Singh and elevation of Mr Kaypee, who was till now the Working President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) is a major set back to outging PPCC chief Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who will now have to remain contended with the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders post. After the defeat of the party in the assembly polls, Mrs Bhattal was not only made the CLP leader but was also appointed the PPCC chief in place of Shamsher Singh Dullo.

Mrs Bhattal removal from the PPCC post comes at a crucial time when the party is preparing for the next Lok Sabha polls. The high command seems to have lost faith in Mrs Bhattal after a string of defeats of the party in the Municipal Corporation polls last year and then in the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRIs) elections this year.

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