Ludhiana: Internal strife within the Punjab Congress is now out in the open, as senior Congress leader Kamaljit Singh Kadwal has launched a direct attack on former MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, alleging that Bains is attempting to weaken Bharat Bhushan Ashu in order to establish political dominance over Ludhiana.
Kadwal warned Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring to remain cautious of Bains, asserting that once Bains finds another political anchor, he will abandon Warring as well. He also claimed that Rahul Gandhi may not have been fully informed about Bains’ past controversies and criminal cases before allowing him to associate with the party.
Key Highlights:
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Kadwal’s Allegation: Bains is trying to sideline Ashu to take over Ludhiana politically.
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Congress Membership Dispute: Bains has not formally applied for Congress membership yet.
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Rahul Gandhi Misled? Kadwal suggests the party high command wasn’t fully informed about Bains’ criminal record.
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Longstanding Relationship Turned Rivalry: Kadwal and Bains were classmates and political partners for nearly 30 years, but drifted apart in 2014.
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Past Clashes: Their supporters have clashed physically in public; incidents of stone-pelting have been reported.
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Criminal Allegations: Bains has been jailed twice — once in a case involving assault on a tehsildar, and once in a sexual assault case filed in 2021.
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Congress Weakness in By-Polls: The controversy follows Congress’ defeat in the Ludhiana West by-election, where Ashu lost amid low voter turnout and weak internal support.
