Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Amarinder Singh said that the party does not seek advice from those who have worked at the grassroots level, a practice that was not the case during Congress rule. Captain Amarinder Singh is currently a member of the BJP’s National Executive. Find out what else he said.
BJP leader and former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has questioned the party’s working style in Punjab. He said that the BJP does not consult those who have worked at the grassroots level, whereas during Congress rule, decisions were made after discussions with MLAs and MPs. Amarinder Singh served as Chief Minister of Punjab twice during Congress rule. He joined the BJP in 2022.
Elaborating on the reasons behind this, he said,
And the reason is that you (the BJP) don’t consult those who have worked at the grassroots level, who know what to say. Decisions are made at the top level; even in the Congress, decisions were made at the top level, but they consulted us, everyone—MLAs, MPs. Here (the BJP), I don’t think anyone asked anything.
When asked if he misses the Congress, Amarinder Singh said,
No, the system there was different, I miss that system. There (in Congress) there was a lot of consultation and experience was valued, which is lacking here (in the BJP). Congress is more flexible in accepting ideas, while the BJP, I think, is a bit more rigid in its approach.
Amarinder Singh’s comments assume significance ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. His statement comes at a time when the BJP is trying to establish itself as a strong political force in the state.