Punjab leadership row: Ashwani Kumar meets Sonia

Former Union Minister and Punjab Congress leader Ashwani Kumar today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi to press for early resolution of the leadership row in Punjab and discussed the party's strategy in the state.
Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is seeking the ouster of sitting Punjab Congress Chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and the leaders in the state are clearly divided though a majority of MLAs have thrown their weight behind Amarinder, according to party sources.
The meeting is significant after Aam Aadmi Party announced its plans for strengthening its activities in Punjab to emerge as a major player in the 2017 Assembly polls in the state.

Sources said the former Law Minister and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab raised with Gandhi the issue of quick resolution of the leadership row and discussed plans for strengthening the party in the state through mass contact programmes, which AAP is also planning.
They said the party high command will take a decision on the leadership issue keeping in mind the sentiments of all party leaders in the state.
A majority of the MLAs have earlier demanded replacement of PCC Chief Bajwa and put their weight behind Amarinder and wanted him to be the face of the party in the state Assembly election in 2017.

The Congress MLAs had also met party Vice President Rahul Gandhi in groups and expressed their views separately.