NEW DELHI: The Congress President and Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, has appointed Mr. Virendra Katana, a Rajya Sabha MP, as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.
The announcement came suddenly as the 65 year old Mr. Kataria had loft for his hometown, Abohar.
Mr. Rao’s decision appears to have been prompted by the need to give the State Congress a more secular image on the eye of the general elections and to appease the Beant Singh lo; a lists as well. Mr. Kataria is a Hindu and was in the anti Brar camp.
According to AICG sources the executive committee of the Pradesh Congress and a campaigning committee for the forthcoming elections will also be constituted soon.
Mr. Kataria’s appointment is seen in political circles as a move by the Prime Minister, to impose a check on Mr. Brar, Mr. Kataria had serious differences with Mr. Brar and had accused the latter of not allowing him to proceed with development work in Abohar and Fazilka. He had also been left Out of the recent dinner diplomacy when Mr, Brar had dined with the Union Ministers from Punjab and other MPs during his Visit here.
However, the next morning Mr.Brar had invited Mr. Kataria to Kapurthala House probably at the instances of die Prime Minister, and discussed the problems facing Abohar.
Mr. Kataria was considered close to Mr, Jakhar. Both belong to the same caste and hail from the same area. However, the Prime Minister has not let the latter’s fall from grace influence his choice for the state party.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 14, 1996
